1961
Original Campus at Banksia
USC AIKEN Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace!
2011
Features of current campus
2 • September 8, 2011
USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
A Message from the Chancellor
Chancellor Thomas L. Hallman
Welcome to this special section of The Aiken Standard, which celebrates the golden anniversary of the University of South Carolina Aiken! We are excited about the coming year and its many opportunities for recognizing USC Aiken’s 50th anniversary. Looking forward to the many events we have planned this year and next year to honor this milestone in our history, our hope is that you – our community – will attend those celebratory gatherings and also show support for your University in other ways. The official date for our anniversary will occur this week on Saturday, Sept. 10. It was 50 years ago on that date when the
doors first opened for classes at the winter colony mansion of Banksia. Since then, USC Aiken has moved to its current site off University Parkway, where it has grown significantly through the years to become a four-year institution serving an average of 3,300 students. As you’ll see in this special section, many successful members of your community are alumni of USC Aiken, and they have witnessed firsthand the positive influence USC Aiken has had not only in Aiken but throughout the state, nation and world. The history of our fine institution also is detailed in this section, along with some features on the people
and symbols that represent who we are. As you explore our history and our connection to the community in greater detail here, I trust you will feel the same sense of pride about your hometown university as I have had while serving the past 11 years as Chancellor. As always, I hope to see you on campus soon. Thank you for your support of USC Aiken! Sincerely, Thomas L. Hallman Chancellor
USC Aiken through the years...
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1987
2011
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1970
USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
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Irene Rudnick: Master Gardener to flora, students alike By: Christina Berkshire
Once the USC Aiken campus became a reality, Rudnick maintained her law offices in Columbia and made the one-hour commute every day in order to teach part time. Her extensive knowledge of law and the civic process made her a valuable asset as part of the highly qualified faculty of USC Aiken. She had gained this expertise through a school career populated with extracurricular activities related to her lifelong passion of becoming a lawyer, such as the debate team, honors societies and several other organizations. Through her many accomplished years, Rudnick has cultivated her roles as a lawyer, a teacher, a mother, and an engaged citizen while staying committed to the Aiken community. Her love of education extends far beyond her duties as a teacher. Never taking a break from teaching at USC Aiken, she was elected as a member of the South Carolina General Assembly in 1972 and made education in Aiken one of her highest priorities. She sponsored bills regarding bus safety for students, traffic safety around schools, and endorsed numerous bills to advance higher education. Funds from one of these bills were earmarked to aid in the construction of the Gregg-Graniteville Library in 1975, which was established in large part by a gift from the Gregg-Graniteville foundation. Part of the funds from a bill Rudnick sponsored to increase taxes went towards the funds USC Aiken needed to become an accredited four-
Among the many people that helped plant the seed of USC Aiken in the heart of the Aiken community in 1961, few have looked after the resulting seedling as diligently as Irene Rudnick. From preparing the soil for the school to come to Aiken and helping the original campus at Banksia bloom into existence, to tending a full garden of current USC Aiken students, Irene Rudnick has been a major part of USC Aiken’s 50 years of growth as a teacher of commercial law and champion for higher education. “When we began at Banksia,” she said, “There were 3.5 acres. Today there are over 450 acres of the University… The growth has been phenomenal.” The idea of having a University of South Carolina branch campus in Aiken was planted in the minds of the community by a large group of individuals interested in giving more educational opportunities to the youth in the area. Part of that group was the American Association of University Women, who worked with the SC senator Edward Cushman on a campaign to garner public interest in the new campus. Rudnick, the president of the AAUW at the time, became part of the campaign while she worked as a young lawyer in Columbia, South Carolina. She helped organize the campaign, which included fundraising receptions, letter-writing and other efforts to raise awareness about the need for better education opportunities in Aiken County. In 1961 the campaign had paid off. A bill establishing the Aiken County Higher Education Commission was passed in the Senate and the Aiken branch of the University of South Carolina was approved for funding. A mansion in the heart of downtown Aiken and the surrounding 3.5 acres were purchased and made ready for housing a brand new college campus. The 1808 mansion, originally owned by Richard Howe, had formerly played host to a winter colony for wealthy northerners escaping the cold weather, was a boarding house for “Bomb plant” workers, and, before its incarnation as a USC branch, was a Private Methodist college. It currently houses the Aiken County Historical Museum. The name Banksia comes from a type of small yellow rose and as the first home of USC Aiken, the mansion was on the perfect plot of land to help the small school bloom. ”It was a beautiful campus…” she said, “and I’ve traveled and seen a lot of the campuses around the state and I would say we have the most beautiful campus in South Carolina.” Irene Rudnick was there in that beautiful setting on the first day of USC Aiken classes with her own passion for teaching ready to help the USC Aiken garden grow. Rudnick in a USC Aiken classroom.
year college. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted that accreditation and gave USC Aiken the authority to award baccalaureate degrees in 1977. Rudnick was an instrumental part in the growth of the current USC Aiken campus as well. In 1978 she appeared in front of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board to defend the funding for the Humanities and Social Sciences building after they voted to cut it. Her testimony became a large part of the effort that changed the minds of the Legislature and in 1978 they allowed the H&SS building to be constructed. Irene Rudnick has truly helped USC Aiken thrive and grow during her time as a teacher there. Dr. Carol Botsch, a professor of Political Sciences at USC Aiken and a long-time co-worker of Rudnick’s, said “Mrs. Rudnick has always focused on what she could do for the community, regardless of whether the issue was education funding, building our university, utility rates, cable tv service, or locating a stoplight where it would protect children on their way to school… No issue was ever too big or too small for this extraordinary woman.” Rudnick credits a large part of this dedication for the USC Aiken campus to the quality of her fellow faculty. “It was such a pleasure to meet and be associated with such intelligent and talented people,” she said of her first group of coworkers, which still
holds true today. Her passion for the students is another reason why she’s taught at USC Aiken for fifty years. She takes pride in fostering their growth into fully fledged adults. As a Master Gardener of Aiken, Rudnick has maintained an original cutting of wisteria from the original Banksia campus given to her by the groundskeeper. With the same care and diligence, she tends to students at USC Aiken. “In teaching the course of business and commercial law, which is what I have taught for many years,” she said, “I tell them that I’m going to teach them all the law I know this semester, and it’s always been my thought that you learn by direct, purposeful experience,” and students are guaranteed to gain that from Rudnick’s commercial law classes. She thinks it’s very important to connect with students personally. In the age of modern technology, she strives to learn about each student beyond emails and grades. She makes a concerted effort to learn about each student’s hopes and goals. She also makes a concerted effort to keep learning as much as she can from her fellow faculty by auditing classes in a variety of fields. “I enjoy bridging the generation gap,” she said, “for I myself audit classes, which I have really enjoyed, and I’ve learned so much from auditing of the courses at the University.” She says some of her favorite classes have been Art history with Dr. John Elliot, whose lectures, she says, “are better than the history channel!”
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USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
Rudnick’s first law offices, which were in the same building as her husband Harold’s store.
Irene Rudnick fa culty photo, 1963 .
Rudnick with a group of fellow representatives.
Thank you USCA for all you have brought to the Aiken Community!
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USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
Then and Now 50 fast facts th
How many total people have graduated from USCA since 1961? 12,903 (and some have received more than one degree).
How many buildings were there in 1961 vs. now?
One building – Banksia – in 1961, now there are 19 buildings at the current University Parkway site.
How many students were there in 1961 vs. now? 139 students in 1961, approximately 3,300 now.
How many faculty/staff were there in 1961 vs. now?
One secretary and 3 faculty members in 1961 vs. 346 full-time faculty and staff and 189 part-time employees now.
How many acres did the original campus have? How many does it have now? The original campus at Banksia had 3.5 acres. The current campus on University Parkway has 453 acres.
USC Aiken Students in 1963.
In 1963, our father Tom Tyler started an automotive repair shop in the small community of Couchton. Through hard work and long hours our father's business grew. He never had the opportunity to attend college, but he was adamant that his children would have the opportunity to attend college themselves. Thankfully my brother and I were given the opportunity to attend our own home-town college. USC Aiken allowed us to work in the family business and get a great education. We both graduated with business degrees and both of our spouses, Jodi Tyler and Vince Harmon, are also alumni from USC Aiken. We are thankful for the opportunities the university gave our whole family. Along with a great education, I played volleyball for USC Aiken and my husband, Vince, also played on the baseball team. Over all, the experience was positive and shaped us as individuals. We are proud to be called USC Aiken alumni. Travis Tyler and Bambi Tyler Harmon - Owners and Operators Hours of Operation:
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USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
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“We Wish USCA Much Success as they begin their next 50 Years of Excellence. Congratulations!” C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s U S C A i k e n o n yo u r 5 0 t h A n n i ve r s a r y !
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USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
The history of the “Double Knot” By: Preston Sparks
exercise in topology, a branch of mathematics concerned with those properties of a geometrical configuration that remain unaltered even It’s a sculpture that has a unique connection when twisted or stretched.” to the history of the University of South CarThrough the years, the “Double Knot” olina Aiken, and the work of its creator can design has been used by Perry in sculptures in be found not only on the university’s grounds Atlanta, at Harvard Business School, in Sydbut in several prominent locations throughout ney, Australia, and Connecticut. Perry’s other the nation and world. works also include one called Continuum at It is the “Double Knot” – a sculpture that the National Air and Space Museum in Washdisplays prominently on a pedestal in the ington, D.C., as well as one in Kirishima, courtyard of USC Aiken’s Penland Building, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore and even at the representing the interlocking tie USC Aiken Ministry of Defense and Air in Saudi Arabia. has held to its community for the past 50 All total, Perry’s sculpture career has consisted years. of more than 100 works created over 45 years. To know the history of the “Double Despite such prominence, though, Perry’s Knot” you must take a step back in time to “Double Knot” sculpture design, which has the beginnings of USC Aiken. It was then, been used in several other locations, nearly shortly after USC Aiken moved its classes became a one-show production. from the winter colony mansion of Banksia “‘Double Knot’ was originally created in the in downtown Aiken to its current location off 1960s for an invitational competition, which University Parkway, that the sculpture’s creCharlie lost,” said Charlie’s wife, Sheila Perry. ator, Charles Perry, held a close connection to “We considered it a great fortune, because the the university. “William Casper, Chancellor from 1963 to The “Double Knot” sculpture sits on a pedestal in the courtyard of USC Aiken’s competition’s conditions (for the winner) were that it would be produced on an exclusive 1983, used to speak of the day that Charles Penland Building. basis, never to be repeated again in any size Perry and his father Owen walked into his symbol that represents how USC Aiken was proud of his son’s work and eager to support anywhere. As a result, Double Knot has had a office in the Penland Building, which then USCA, which had just moved to its new cam- formed at the request of the area’s residents successful life in different sizes and places.” served as a general purpose classroom and pus. It was William Casper’s ultimate decision and how students, faculty and staff remain And as USC Aiken’s 50th anniversary office building for the whole campus,” wrote engaged with the community. quickly approaches, the sculpture remains a Dr. Tom Mack, chair of USC Aiken’s English to sanction the placement of the sculpture in “Double Knot has come to symbolize, over living legacy to the works of Perry, who died the center of the courtyard of the administraDepartment, in his book Circling the Savantime, the interlocking ties between the univer- in February. Perry had published a book in nah: Cultural Landmarks of the Central Savan- tion building and to have it displayed on a sity and the community that it serves, but that the ‘80s about his creations, and just recently pedestal surrounded by a circular bench.” nah River Area (Charleston, SC: The History was not necessarily the artist’s original intena second book by him has been made availThe cast bronze sculpture at USC Aiken Press). tion,” wrote Dr. Mack in his book. “Accordwas dedicated to Charlie’s father, Owen, and able, detailing many more works made since “Perry’s father Owen, who was a friend of ing to Perry himself, the sculpture is an in the decades since then it has become a his previous book. Casper’s in the Aiken Rotary, was justifiably
Charles Perry
USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
Director Christopher S. Sharp
Chancellor William C. Casper
Chancellor Robert E. Alexander
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Chancellor Thomas L. Hallman
USC Aiken’s Chancellors Dr. Christopher S. Sharp (1961-1962)
Dr. Christopher Sharp took over as the first director of the University of South Carolina Aiken in 1961, when the university was located at the winter colony mansion of Banksia, which today serves as the Aiken County Historical Museum in downtown Aiken. At that time, the campus began with a meager $29,000 and just four employees. Sharp once remarked how the Columbia campus of the University of South Carolina had told him he would probably have 25 to 30 students that first year, but when all was said and done 139 students had registered to take classes.
Prof. William C. Casper (1963-1983)
Prof. William C. Casper served as Chancellor of USC Aiken from 1963 to 1983, overseeing a budget that grew to $5 million and a staff of 84. During Casper’s term, USC Aiken moved from Banksia to its current location off University Parkway. Also while Casper was Chancellor, USC Aiken awarded its first associate degrees in June 1968 and later became fully accredited to award baccalaureate degrees. Casper saw the first building built on the new campus and several others afterward, to include the Gregg-Graniteville Library, the Student Activities Center, the Humanities and Social Sciences Building, and the Operations/Maintenance building. USC Aiken’s Alumni Association also was started.
Dr. Robert E. Alexander (1983-2000)
Dr. Robert E. Alexander became the second Chancellor of USC Aiken in 1983, overseeing much growth during his tenure, which lasted through 2000. When he started as Chancellor, the university’s academic facilities included two buildings for classrooms, a
library and the Student Activities Center. When he left in 2000, USC Aiken had expanded the Gregg-Graniteville Library and opened the Etherredge Center, the Sciences Building, the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, the Children’s Center, the Business and Education Center, the Du Pont Planetarium, Pacer Downs and the Alan B. Miller Nursing Building. USC Aiken also began offering its first master’s degree in elementary education.
Dr. Thomas L. Hallman (2000-present)
Dr. Thomas L. Hallman became the third Chancellor of USC Aiken in 2000 and has overseen much continued growth at the university. USC Aiken now averages about 3,300 students and has more than 340 full-time faculty and staff and more than 180 parttime employees. Since 2000, USC Aiken has opened the Roberto Hernandez Baseball Stadium, the Pacer Commons and Pacer Crossings housing complexes, the Convocation Center, the Pacer Path for track and field events, and a new student walking path and disc golf course. USC Aiken has also continued to receive recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s College Guide, ranking the No. 1 public baccalaureate college in the South seven times during the 2000s. Under the leadership of Dr. Hallman, three new degree programs were implemented - a BA in Music Education, BA in Special Education, and M.Ed. in Education Technology. The University also has significantly increased admission standards for entering students, keeping enrollment relatively steady, and retention and graduation rates have trended up as has minority enrollment. Going forward, there are now plans underway for a pedestrian bridge to be constructed, allowing safe travel for students and others over Robert Bell Parkway from the student housing side of campus to the Convocation Center.
For a full list of USC Aiken’s 50th Anniversary Celebration events,
visit
w w w. u s c a . e d u / 5 0
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September 8, 2011 •
U.S. News & World Report’s
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U.S. News & World Report’s
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“Alumni Remember USC Aiken” Frank Thomas, President, Security Federal Bank, Attended Banksia in 1960’s Q. What is your current occupation and what would you consider your major accomplishments? A. My current occupation is a banker, I’m currently President of Security Federal Bank. Q. How did USCA help prepare you for the job you currently hold? A. My home town is Aiken and I considered USCA due to its location and the curriculum. The prep courses for a business degree and the business courses were available. I was also able to work part time in a local bank while attending USCA. Q. What is your favorite USCA memory? A. One was the personal attention the professors were able to give to me and others in school, the other was the recreation area is the basement of Banksia, great place to talk to classmates and relax.
“My home town is Aiken and I considered USCA due to its location and the curriculum.”
1966
2011
Anthony Sampson,
Deputy Sheriff, Aiken County Sheriff Department, Class of 2007 Q. What is your current occupation and what would you consider your major accomplishments? A. I currently work with the Aiken County Sheriff ’s Office in the Warrants/Community Services Division. Right now I would consider them graduating from college and obtaining a career in which I really enjoy. Q. How did USCA help prepare you for the job you currently hold? A. USCA helped to prepare me for my career by challenging me to become a leader. The professors at USCA constantly pushed me to do better and to set the standard for everyone else to follow. Q. What is your favorite USCA memory? A. My favorite USCA memory is graduation day. I was so happy to have passed Social Demography that I hugged and picked up Dr. Henson who was the professor at that time.
“USCA helped to prepare me for my career by challenging me to become a leader.”
2005
2011
Ace Pacer,
Mascot, University of South Carolina, class of 1992
1992
2011
Q. What is your current occupation and what would you consider your major accomplishments? A. I work as the mascot for the University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers Sports. I think the biggest accomplishment of my career as a mascot has been encouraging the athletes at USC Aiken to do the best they possibly can, as well as being a great ambassador to other schools’ teams and sports fans as part of the “Positive Game Environment” effort. Q. How did USCA help prepare you for the job you currently hold? A. USC Aiken prepared me for my current job by getting me hooked on Pacer Sports! Q. What is your favorite USCA memory? A. My favorite USCA memory was the Convocation Center’s opening night in 2007. I had been on hiatus from mascotting since my head was stolen in the late 90’s and Pacer Athletics invited me back with an entire costume update when the Convocation Center opened. It was so great to see everyone’s smiles as they unveiled me to the crowd, and I knew I was back where I belongedgetting people excited about the Pacers and USC Aiken. I’m looking forward to many more great memories to come!
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Pam Galardi,
RN, Surgical Services at Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Class of 1977
1977
Q. What is your current occupation and what would you consider your major accomplishments? A. Currently I work as a RN at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Some of my accomplishments include being inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, Honor Society of Nursing; cross-trained to multiple areas/roles in the nursing profession; and having been employed by the same facility since graduating USCA. Q. How did USCA help prepare you for the job you currently hold? A. USCA helped me prepare for my role as an RN in many ways. The classes and path in which they were scheduled was of great importance. The clinical rotations coincided well with the classroom. Both class and clinical were geared toward the goal of meeting SC State Board of Nursing requirements. In order to achieve this goal, organizational skills, time management skills, and leadership skills played an important role. These skills continue to be used routinely in my daily nursing activities. Q. What is your favorite USCA memory? A. Registration day was always full of excitement and anticipation. Enrolling in classes was done on a first come basis. Many of us would arrive at USCA in the early am (4:00am-5:00am) and set up “camp” on the sidewalk leading into the building as if we were waiting on tickets for a rock concert. This was the time when you met new people, formed new lifelong friendships and became masters at card playing.
2011
“USCA helped me prepare for my role as an RN in many ways.”
Margo Gore,
Middle school Math Teacher, Kennedy Middle School, Class of 1997
1997
Q. What is your current occupation and what would you consider your major accomplishments? A. I am a seventh grade Science teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Everything I have accomplished is because of God’s goodness. He blessed me with outstanding parents with a loving, supportive husband and wonderful children. My family has been my greatest inspiration as I pursued my educational and professional goals. Professionally, the highlights of my career would include the year I won Aiken County District Teacher of the Year, receiving National Board certification and my ongoing educational pursuits. I hope to finish my doctorate in Educational administration in 2012. Of course, I give God all of the credit. Q. How did USCA help prepare you for the job you currently hold? A. USCA gave me a solid foundation. The dedication of the faculty is something I’ll never forget. Dr. Kaufmann, Dr. Riedell, and others provided encouragement to all their students. For me, this encouragement helped me to persevere. As a busy mother of small children, I needed this type of faculty to keep me going. From early in my program through student teaching and far beyond graduation, I received continuous reassurance from my professors. Q. What is your favorite USCA memory? A. My entire experience at USCA was memorable. Some of my favorite USCA memories stem from my involvement with the Education Majors Club. I served as President of the club the year before I began student teaching. By that time, camaraderie among my peers as well as the faculty had matured and developed. We had become a professional community, respecting each other’s professional talents and genuinely enjoying one another’s company.
2011
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USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
USC Aiken Trivia
Coastal Carolina, Lancaster and Union. Lew Perkins served as a coach the first year and as athletic director. Also during this time, the first Booster Club was formed. Also, Richard Burdette signed the first ever • Banksia, the house where USCA was chosen in 1970, on land west of the city USCA grant-in-aid. originally located, was named after a type of Aiken between U.S. 1 and Trolley Line • The school colors of blue and white were of small yellow rose. Road, there were no roads through the changed to garnet and gray in 1969. • The original owner of the Banksia property, property. In fact, as Chancellor Bill Casper The new colors reflected those of the Richard Howe, lived in a small wooden drove through the site in a 4-wheel drive Confederate army uniforms, which fit the shack on the property until his son built vehicle during a surveying trip, he became school’s mascot during that time which was the mansion which currently stands there. lost in the heavily wooded area. the “Rebels.” In 1971, the mascot changed Rumor has it that his son built it while • The $400,000 donation from the Greggfrom the Rebels to the Pacers. Richard was on vacation and when he Graniteville Foundation in 1972 was, at • USCA has had three different mascot returned, he promptly had a heart attack the time, the largest single gift made to a costumes for the mascot Ace Pacer. In the at the surprise. Incidentally, Richard’s library in the state of South Carolina. late 90’s, the second Ace’s head disappeared shack held the original USCA faculty and • The Double Knot sculpture that graces from the locker room and USCA went administration offices. the administration building courtyard is without a mascot until 2007, when Ace’s • USCA was not the first college to occupy a gift from renowned artist, Charles O. recent incarnation was created with the Banksia, the Georgian-style mansion Perry, in memory of his father, Owen Perry, construction of the Convocation Center. located in downtown Aiken that housed a mining engineer who lived in Aiken The culprits for the grisly crime were never the public library. From 1957-1960, the County. It symbolizes the continuous caught, and the second mascot’s head old winter colony home housed Southern tie between the University and the remains missing. Methodist College. community, and is one of many of Perry’s • For several years after the school changed • In 1979, students from Banksia marched works on exhibit at museums and buildings its mascot to the Pacer, the school logo twice into downtown Aiken, carrying around the world. depicted a trotter. When the mistake was signs and chanting slogans, in support • In 1961-1962, the basketball team won the discovered, a new logo was developed. of a $1 million bond that issued a new Carolina League State trophy. Dr. William • During the 1979-1980 season, Men’s and enlarged campus in Aiken. On one S. Carr and Joe Jiunnies were the school’s basketball won the NAIA District Six occasion, Commission Chairman Robert first basketball coaches and games were Championship and participated in NAIA Penland joined the students and, in played at Kennedy Junior High School. National Championship. support of the bond, several downtown • During the 1969-1970 year, the USCA • In 1980, the USCA volleyball team merchants also closed their doors in a show Rebels competed in the Carolina League competed in the NAIA National of solidarity. Tournament with USC Regional Campuses Championships. • When the new site for the campus was from Aiken, Florence, Spartanburg, • USCA students represent over 35 American
states, with 47 international students representing 22 different countries • USCA was a charter member of the Peach Belt Athletic Conference which was formed and had conference play in 1990 and 1991. • The USCA golf team won three straight NCAA National Championships in 2004, 2005 and 2006. • USCA had its first Athletic Hall of Fame induction on November 30, 2007. • The USCA women’s basketball team set a school record for wins during the 2010-2011 season with a 27-6 record. • In the 2002-2003 academic year the first all-female SGA executive board was elected. They were Tiffany Meador, Kristin Allen, and Amanda Brown • Melissa Hanna, a former editor of the Pacer Times, is now the Editor in Chief of the Athens Banner Herald. • There are over 65 student organizations at USC Aiken. • USC Aiken has an annual operating budget of more than $53 million. Employment at the campus includes 372 permanent employees. Students receive in excess of $32 million each year in federal, state, and private aid funds. This, along with an estimated 3,300 undergraduate and graduate students, construction, and contractual activities, bring the estimated economic impact on our region to in excess of $121 million. Additionally, the estimated spending power of our students is more than $47 million.
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Congratulations USCA! Thank You for All You Did For Me! -Rocky L. Napier Class of 1976
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USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
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September 8, 2011 •
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Eugene Sawyer awarded for supporting education Eugene Sawyer vividly recalls how he helped Bob Penland examine potential sites for USC Aiken decades ago. Today, having recently retired from the Aiken County Commission on Higher Education, Sawyer marvels at how far the university has come. “It’s great to look at the audience (at today’s graduation ceremonies) and see what we’ve accomplished,” he said. Sawyer was appointed to the Aiken County Commission on Higher Education in 1961 and served as its treasurer until his recent retirement this year. The commission was established in 1961 to oversee the creation of USC Aiken. Through the years, Sawyer has seen USC Aiken grow from a small student body of several hundred to thousands at the University’s present location. At USC Aiken’s April Academic Convocation, Sawyer was presented with a resolution in his honor by state Rep. Roland Smith.
And at USC Aiken’s May Commencement, he also was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, being lauded “for his enduring support of higher education in South Carolina; for his achievements as a business and community leader; and for his personal commitment to high standards and ethical principles.” Sawyer, a native of Clearwater, S.C., has been an accomplished businessman in Aiken County for many years through his pharmacy services and has been a strong supporter of the Aiken community and the field of education through his participation on several boards. Now that he’s retired, Mr. Sawyer says he plans to enjoy some much deserved relaxation and spend more time with his family: wife, Anne; children - Scott Stuart and Jane Deanne Sawyer; and nine grandchildren.
Congratulations USC Aiken on 50 Years of Excellence! from the USCA alumni of Security Federal Bank
AS07-595067
Pictured from back left: Ashlyn Griffin, Margaret Hurt, Valerie Laird, Cassie Hirsch, Janice Hauerwas, Natasha Canty, Erik Dunham, Terry Gilman, Andrea Haltiwanger, Logan Bryant, Eric Langston, Zorayda El, Dr. Robert Alexander, Tommy Moore, Gina Kelly, Alicia Heath, Betsy Davis, Jason Langdale and Christine Lewis.
“We Congratulate USCA on their 50th Anniversary! Our Appreciation is extended for the impact they have made in our Community!”
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USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
USC Aiken under construction...
Moving the Pickens-Salley House in 1986.
Construction of the Gregg-Granitville Libr ary in 1975.
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tration Building in 1972. Construction of the Adminis
USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
September 8, 2011 •
U O Y K N A TH N E K I A C S U Tyler Crosby
Account Executive Class of 2010
John Lowery Copy Editor Class of 1995
Karen Klock
Chief Copy Editor Class of 2005
Stacey Mosier
Web Content Manager Class of 2010
Matt Socha
Special Projects Class of 1997
Aiken Standard employees & USCA graduates.
Terri Cheek
Business Manager Class of 1999 & 2011
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20 • September 8, 2011
USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace
Still Setting
the Pace
for Your Success Meet our featured alumni, pages 12 & 13
Anthony Sampson class of 2007
Pam Galardi
class of 1977 & 1992
Now: Deputy Sheriff, Aiken County Sheriff ’s Dpt.
Now: Registered Nurse, Aiken Regional Medical Centers
Frank Thomas Attended Banksia in the 60’s
Now: President, Security Federal Bank
Margo Gore class of 1997
Now: Math Teacher, Kennedy Middle School
www.usca.edu/50