USCA 50th Anniversary

8/3/2019 USCA 50th Anniversary

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Celebrating 50 Yearsof Setting the Pace!

1961Original Campus at Banksia

2011Features of current campus

USC AIKEN


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Welcome to this special section ofTheAiken Standard, which celebrates thegolden anniversary of the University of

South Carolina Aiken!We are excited about the coming yearand its many opportunities for recognizingUSC Aikens 50th anniversary. Lookingforward to the many events we haveplanned this year and next year to honorthis milestone in our history, our hope isthat you our community will attendthose celebratory gatherings and also showsupport for your University in other ways.

The official date for our anniversary willoccur this week on Saturday, Sept. 10. It

was 50 years ago on that date when the

doors first opened for classes at the wintercolony mansion of Banksia. Since then,USC Aiken has moved to its current site

off University Parkway, where it has grownsignificantly through the years to becomea four-year institution serving an averageof 3,300 students.

As youll see in this special section,many successful members of yourcommunity are alumni of USC Aiken,and they have witnessed firsthand thepositive influence USC Aiken has had notonly in Aiken but throughout the state,nation and world. The history of our fineinstitution 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 samesense of pride about your hometownuniversity as I have had while serving thepast 11 years as Chancellor.

As always, I hope to see you on campussoon. Thank you for your support ofUSC Aiken!

Sincerely,

Thomas L. Hallman

Chancellor

2 September 8, 2011 USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace

A Message from the Chancellor

hancellor Thomas L. Hallman

USC Aiken through the years...

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September 8, 2011 3USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace

By: Christina Berkshire

Among the many people that helped planthe seed of USC Aiken in the heart of the

iken community in 1961, few have lookedfter the resulting seedling as diligently asrene Rudnick. From preparing the soil forhe school to come to Aiken and helpinghe original campus at Banksia bloom intoxistence, to tending a full garden of cur-ent USC Aiken students, Irene Rudnick haseen a major part of USC Aikens 50 years ofrowth as a teacher of commercial law andhampion for higher education. When weegan at Banksia, she said, There were 3.5cres. Today there are over 450 acres of the

niversity The growth has been phenom-nal.The idea of having a University of Southarolina branch campus in Aiken waslanted in the minds of the community by a

arge group of individuals interested in giv-ng more educational opportunities to theouth in the area. Part of that group was themerican Association of University Women,ho worked with the SC senator Edwardushman on a campaign to garner public

nterest in the new campus. Rudnick, the

resident of the AAUW at the time, becameart of the campaign while she worked as aoung lawyer in Columbia, South Carolina.he helped organize the campaign, whichncluded fundraising receptions, letter-writ-ng and other efforts to raise awareness abouthe need for better education opportunitiesn Aiken County.

In 1961 the campaign had paid off. Aill establishing the Aiken County Higherducation Commission was passed in theenate and the Aiken branch of the Uni-

ersity of South Carolina was approved forunding. A mansion in the heart of down-own Aiken and the surrounding 3.5 acresere purchased and made ready for housingbrand new college campus. The 1808 man-

ion, originally owned by Richard Howe, hadormerly played host to a winter colony forealthy northerners escaping the cold weath-

r, was a boarding house for Bomb plantorkers, and, before its incarnation as a USCranch, was a Private Methodist college. Iturrently houses the Aiken County Histori-al Museum. The name Banksia comes fromtype of small yellow rose and as the firstome of USC Aiken, the mansion was onhe perfect plot of land to help the smallchool bloom. It was a beautiful campushe said, and Ive traveled and seen a lot ofhe campuses around the state and I woulday we have the most beautiful campus inouth Carolina. Irene Rudnick was theren that beautiful setting on the first day ofSC Aiken classes with her own passion for

eaching ready to help the USC Aiken gardenrow.

Once the USC Aiken campus became areality, Rudnick maintained her law offices inColumbia and made the one-hour commuteevery day in order to teach part time. Her

extensive knowledge of law and the civic pro-cess made her a valuable asset as part of thehighly qualified faculty of USC Aiken. Shehad gained this expertise through a schoolcareer populated with extracurricular activi-ties related to her lifelong passion of becom-ing a lawyer, such as the debate team, honorssocieties 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 com-

munity. Her love of education extends farbeyond her duties as a teacher. Never takinga break from teaching at USC Aiken, she

was elected as a member of the South Caroli-na General Assembly in 1972 and made edu-cation in Aiken one of her highest priorities.She sponsored bills regarding bus safety forstudents, traffic safety around schools, andendorsed numerous bills to advance highereducation. Funds from one of these bills wereearmarked to aid in the construction of theGregg-Graniteville Library in 1975, which

was established in large part by a gift fromthe Gregg-Graniteville foundation. Part ofthe funds from a bill Rudnick sponsored toincrease taxes went towards the funds USC

Aiken needed to become an accredited four-

year college. The Southern Association ofColleges and Schools granted that accredi-tation and gave USC Aiken the authorityto award baccalaureate degrees in 1977.

Rudnick was an instrumental part in thegrowth of the current USC Aiken campusas well. In 1978 she appeared in front of theSouth Carolina Budget and Control Board todefend the funding for the Humanities andSocial Sciences building after they voted tocut it. Her testimony became a large part ofthe effort that changed the minds of the Leg-islature and in 1978 they allowed the H&SSbuilding to be constructed.

Irene Rudnick has truly helped USC Aikenthrive and grow during her time as a teacher

there. Dr. Carol Botsch, a professor of Politi-cal Sciences at USC Aiken and a long-timeco-worker of Rudnicks, said Mrs. Rudnickhas always focused on what she could do forthe community, regardless of whether theissue was education funding, building ouruniversity, utility rates, cable tv service, orlocating a stoplight where it would protectchildren on their way to school No issue

was ever too big or too small for this extraor-dinary woman.

Rudnick credits a large part of this dedi-

cation for the USC Aiken campus to thequality of her fellow faculty. It was such apleasure to meet and be associated with suchintelligent and talented people, she saidof her first group of coworkers, which still

holds true today. Her passion for the studentsis another reason why shes taught at USC

Aiken for fifty years. She takes pride in fos-tering their growth into fully fledged adults.

As a Master Gardener of Aiken, Rudnick hasmaintained an original cutting of wisteriafrom the original Banksia campus given toher by the groundskeeper. With the samecare and diligence, she tends to students atUSC Aiken. In teaching the course of busi-ness and commercial law, which is what Ihave taught for many years, she said, I tellthem that Im going to teach them all the lawI know this semester, and its always been mythought that you learn by direct, purposefulexperience, and students are guaranteed to

gain that from Rudnicks commercial lawclasses. She thinks its very important to con-nect with students personally. In the age ofmodern technology, she strives to learn abouteach student beyond emails and grades. Shemakes a concerted effort to learn about eachstudents hopes and goals. She also makes aconcerted effort to keep learning as much asshe can from her fellow faculty by auditingclasses in a variety of fields. I enjoy bridgingthe generation gap, she said, for I myselfaudit classes, which I have really enjoyed, and

Ive learned so much from auditing of thecourses at the University. She says some ofher favorite classes have been Art history withDr. John Elliot, whose lectures, she says, arebetter than the history channel!

Irene Rudnick: Master Gardener to flora, students alike

Rudnick in a USC Aiken classroom.

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Rudnick with a group of fellow representatives.IreneRudnickfacultyphoto,1963.

Rudnicks first law offices,which were in the samebuilding as her husbandHarolds store.

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Thank you USCAfor all you havebrought to the

Aiken Community!

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6 September 8 2011 USC Aiken C l b ati 50 Y a f S tti th Pa


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Then and Now 50th fast facts

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.

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In 1963, our father Tom Tyler started an automotive repair shop in the small community of Couchton. Through hard work an d long hours our father's business grew. He never had the opportu-nity 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 ourown 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 andVince Harmon, are also alumni from USC Aiken. We are thankful for the opportunities the university gave o ur whole family. Along with a great education, I played volleyball for USC Aikenand 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

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By: Preston Sparks

Its a sculpture that has a unique connection

to the history of the University of South Car-olina Aiken, and the work of its creator canbe found not only on the universitys groundsbut in several prominent locations throughoutthe nation and world.

It is the Double Knot a sculpture thatdisplays prominently on a pedestal in thecourtyard of USC Aikens Penland Building,representing the interlocking tie USC Aikenhas held to its community for the past 50years.

To know the history of the Double

Knot you must take a step back in time tothe beginnings of USC Aiken. It was then,shortly after USC Aiken moved its classesfrom the winter colony mansion of Banksiain downtown Aiken to its current location off

niversity Parkway, that the sculptures cre-ator, Charles Perry, held a close connection tothe university.

William Casper, Chancellor from 1963 to1983, used to speak of the day that CharlesPerry and his father Owen walked into hisoffice in the Penland Building, which then

served as a general purpose classroom andoffice building for the whole campus, wroteDr. Tom Mack, chair of USC Aikens EnglishDepartment, in his bookCircling the Savan-nah: Cultural Landmarks of the Central Savan-nah River Area (Charleston, SC: The HistoryPress).

Perrys father Owen, who was a friend ofCaspers in the Aiken Rotary, was justifiably

proud of his sons work and eager to support

USCA, which had just moved to its new cam-pus. It was William Caspers ultimate decisionto sanction the placement of the sculpture inthe center of the courtyard of the administra-tion building and to have it displayed on apedestal surrounded by a circular bench.

The cast bronze sculpture at USC Aikenwas dedicated to Charlies father, Owen, andin the decades since then it has become a

symbol that represents how USC Aiken was

formed at the request of the areas residentsand how students, faculty and staff remainengaged with the community.

Double Knothas come to symbolize, overtime, the interlocking ties between the univer-sity and the community that it serves, but thatwas not necessarily the artists original inten-tion, wrote Dr. Mack in his book. Accord-ing to Perry himself, the sculpture is an

exercise in topology, a branch of mathematicsconcerned with those properties of a geometri-cal configuration that remain unaltered even

when twisted or stretched.Through the years, the Double Knot

design has been used by Perry in sculptures inAtlanta, at Harvard Business School, in Syd-ney, Australia, and Connecticut. Perrys otherworks also include one called Continuum atthe National Air and Space Museum in Wash-ington, D.C., as well as one in Kirishima,Japan, Switzerland, Singapore and even at theMinistry of Defense and Air in Saudi Arabia.All total, Perrys sculpture career has consistedof more than 100 works created over 45 years.

Despite such prominence, though, PerrysDouble Knot sculpture design, which hasbeen used in several other locations, nearlybecame a one-show production.

Double Knot was originally created in the1960s for an invitational competition, whichCharlie lost, said Charlies wife, Sheila Perry.We considered it a great fortune, because thecompetitions conditions (for the winner) werethat it would be produced on an exclusivebasis, never to be repeated again in any sizeanywhere. As a result, Double Knot has had a

successful life in different sizes and places.And as USC Aikens 50th anniversary

quickly approaches, the sculpture remains aliving legacy to the works of Perry, who diedin February. Perry had published a book inthe 80s about his creations, and just recentlya second book by him has been made avail-able, detailing many more works made sincehis previous book.

The history of the Double Knot

The Double Knot sculpture sits on a pedestal in the courtyard of USC AikensPenland Building.

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p 9g 5 f g

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. Atthat time, the campus began with a meager $29,000 and just four employees. Sharp onceremarked how the Columbia campus of the University of South Carolina had told him hewould probably have 25 to 30 students that first year, but when all was said and done 139students 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 Caspers term, USCAiken moved from Banksia to its current location off University Parkway. Also whileCasper was Chancellor, USC Aiken awarded its first associate degrees in June 1968 andlater became fully accredited to award baccalaureate degrees. Casper saw the first buildingbuilt on the new campus and several others afterward, to include the Gregg-GranitevilleLibrary, the Student Activities Center, the Humanities and Social Sciences Building, andthe Operations/Maintenance building. USC Aikens 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 startedas Chancellor, the universitys academic facilities included two buildings for classrooms, a

library and the Student Activities Center. When he left in 2000, USC Aiken had expandethe Gregg-Graniteville Library and opened the Etherredge Center, the Sciences Building,the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, the Childrens Center, the Business andEducation Center, the Du Pont Planetarium, Pacer Downs and the Alan B. Miller NursinBuilding. USC Aiken also began offering its first masters 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 about3,300 students and has more than 340 full-time faculty and staff and more than 180 part-time employees. Since 2000, USC Aiken has opened the Roberto Hernandez Baseball

Stadium, the Pacer Commons and Pacer Crossings housing complexes, the ConvocationCenter, the Pacer Path for track and field events, and a new student walking path anddisc golf course. USC Aiken has also continued to receive recognition in U.S. News &World Reports College Guide, ranking the No. 1 public baccalaureate college in the Southseven times during the 2000s. Under the leadership of Dr. Hallman, three new degreeprograms were implemented - a BA in Music Education, BA in Special Education, andM.Ed. in Education Technology. The University also has significantly increased admissionstandards for entering students, keeping enrollment relatively steady, and retention andgraduation rates have trended up as has minority enrollment. Going forward, there arenow plans underway for a pedestrian bridge to be constructed, allowing safe travel forstudents and others over Robert Bell Parkway from the student housing side of campus tothe Convocation Center.

USC Aikens Chancellors

Director Christopher S. Sharp Chancellor William C. Casper Chancellor Robert E. Alexander Chancellor Thomas L. Hallman

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For a full list of USC Aikens

50th Anniversary Celebration events,

visit

10 September 8, 2011 USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace September 8, 2011 11


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U.S. News & World

Reports

10 September 8, 2011 USC Aiken Celebrating 50 Years of Setting the Pace September 8, 2011 11


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U.S. News & World

Reports



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Alumni Remember USC AikenFrank Thomas,

President, Security Federal Bank, Attended Banksia in 1960sQ. What is your current occupation and whatwould you consider your major accomplishments?

A. My current occupation is a banker, Imcurrently President of Security Federal Bank.

Q. How did USCA help prepare you for the jobyou currently hold?

A. My home town is Aiken and I consideredUSCA 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 inschool, the other was the recreation area is the basement of Banksia, great place to talk toclassmates and relax.

Anthony Sampson,Deputy Sheriff, Aiken County Sheriff Department, Class of 2007Q. What is your current occupation and what

would you consider your major accomplishments?A. I currently work with the Aiken CountySheriffs Office in the Warrants/CommunityServices Division. Right now I would considerthem graduating from college and obtaining acareer 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. Theprofessors at USCA constantly pushed me to do better and to set the standard for everyoneelse to follow.

Q. What is your favorite USCA memory?A. My favorite USCA memory is graduation day. I was so happy to have passed SocialDemography that I hugged and picked up Dr. Henson who was the professor at that time.

Ace Pacer,Mascot, University of South Carolina, class of 1992Q. 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 big-gest 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 andsports fans as part of the Positive Game Environment effort.


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 Centers opening night in 2007. I had beenon hiatus from mascotting since my head was stolen in the late 90s and Pacer Athletics invitedme back with an entire costume update when the Convocation Center opened. It was so great tosee everyones smiles as they unveiled me to the crowd, and I knew I was back where I belonged-getting people excited about the Pacers and USC Aiken. Im looking forward to many more great

i t !

1966

2005

1992 2011

2011

2011

USCA helped to prepare mefor my career by challengingme to become a leader.

My home town is Aikenand I considered USCAdue to its location and thecurriculum.



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Pam Galardi,RN, Surgical Services at Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Class of 1977Q. 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 accomplishmentsinclude being inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, Honor Society of Nursing; cross-trained tomultiple areas/roles in the nursing profession; and having been employed by the same facility sincegraduating USCA.


A. USCA helped me prepare for my role as an RN in many ways. The classes and path in whichthey were scheduled was of great importance. The clinical rotations coincided well with theclassroom. Both class and clinical were geared toward the goal of meeting SC State Board ofNursing 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 mydaily nursing activities.

Q. What is your favorite USCA memory?

A. Registration day was always full of excitement and anticipation. Enrolling in classes was doneon a first come basis. Many of us would arrive at USCA in the early am (4:00am-5:00am) andset up camp on the sidewalk leading into the building as if we were waiting on tickets for arock concert. This was the time when you met new people, formed new lifelong friendships andbecame masters at card playing.

Margo Gore,Middle school Math Teacher, Kennedy Middle School, Class of 1997Q. 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 haveaccomplished is because of Gods goodness. He blessed me with outstanding parents with a

loving, supportive husband and wonderful children. My family has been my greatest inspirationas 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 Boardcertification and my ongoing educational pursuits. I hope to finish my doctorate in Educationaladministration in 2012. Of course, I give God all of the credit.


A. USCA gave me a solid foundation. The dedication of the faculty is something Ill never forget.Dr. Kaufmann, Dr. Riedell, and others provided encouragement to all their students. For me, thisencouragement helped me to persevere. As a busy mother of small children, I needed this type offaculty 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 stemfrom my involvement with the Education Majors Club. I served as President of the club the yearbefore I began student teaching. By that time, camaraderie among my peers as well as the facultyhad matured and developed. We had become a professional community, respecting each othersprofessional talents and genuinely enjoying one anothers company.

1977

1997

2011

2011From early in my program through student teaching andfar beyond graduation, I received continuous reassurancefrom my professors.

USCA helped me prepare for my role as an RN in many ways.

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Aiken, SC 29801

803-507-1856www.grouchos.com

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Banksia, the house where USCA wasoriginally located, was named after a typeof small yellow rose.The original owner of the Banksia property,

Richard Howe, lived in a small woodenshack on the property until his son builtthe mansion which currently stands there.Rumor has it that his son built it whileRichard was on vacation and when hereturned, he promptly had a heart attackat the surprise. Incidentally, Richardsshack held the original USCA faculty andadministration offices.USCA was not the first college to occupyBanksia, the Georgian-style mansionlocated in downtown Aiken that housed

the public library. From 1957-1960, theold winter colony home housed SouthernMethodist College.In 1979, students from Banksia marchedtwice into downtown Aiken, carryingsigns and chanting slogans, in supportof a $1 million bond that issued a newand enlarged campus in Aiken. On oneoccasion, Commission Chairman RobertPenland joined the students and, insupport of the bond, several downtownmerchants also closed their doors in a show

of solidarity.When the new site for the campus was

chosen in 1970, on land west of the cityof Aiken between U.S. 1 and Trolley LineRoad, there were no roads through theproperty. In fact, as Chancellor Bill Casper

drove through the site in a 4-wheel drivevehicle during a surveying trip, he becamelost in the heavily wooded area.The $400,000 donation from the Gregg-Graniteville Foundation in 1972 was, atthe time, the largest single gift made to alibrary in the state of South Carolina.The Double Knot sculpture that gracesthe administration building courtyard isa gift from renowned artist, Charles O.Perry, in memory of his father, Owen Perry,a mining engineer who lived in Aiken

County. It symbolizes the continuoustie between the University and thecommunity, and is one of many of Perrys

works on exhibit at museums and buildingsaround the world.In 1961-1962, the basketball team won theCarolina League State trophy. Dr. WilliamS. Carr and Joe Jiunnies were the schoolsfirst basketball coaches and games wereplayed at Kennedy Junior High School.During the 1969-1970 year, the USCARebels competed in the Carolina League

Tournament with USC Regional Campusesfrom Aiken, Florence, Spartanburg,

Coastal Carolina, Lancaster and Union.Lew Perkins served as a coach the first yearand as athletic director. Also during thistime, the first Booster Club was formed.

Also, Richard Burdette signed the first everUSCA grant-in-aid.The school colors of blue and white werechanged to garnet and gray in 1969.The new colors reflected those of the

Confederate army uniforms, which fit theschools mascot during that time which wasthe Rebels. In 1971, the mascot changedfrom the Rebels to the Pacers.USCA has had three different mascotcostumes for the mascot Ace Pacer. In thelate 90s, the second Aces head disappearedfrom the locker room and USCA went

without a mascot until 2007, when Acesrecent incarnation was created with theconstruction of the Convocation Center.The culprits for the grisly crime were never

caught, and the second mascots headremains missing.For several years after the school changedits mascot to the Pacer, the school logodepicted a trotter. When the mistake wasdiscovered, a new logo was developed.During the 1979-1980 season, Mensbasketball won the NAIA District SixChampionship and participated in NAIANational Championship.In 1980, the USCA volleyball teamcompeted in the NAIA National

Championships.USCA students represent over 35 American

states, with 47 international studentsrepresenting 22 different countriesUSCA was a charter member of the PeachBelt Athletic Conference which was formedand had conference play in 1990 and 1991.The USCA golf team won three straightNCAA National Championships in 2004,2005 and 2006.USCA had its first Athletic Hall of Fame

induction on November 30, 2007.The USCA womens basketball teamset a school record for wins during the2010-2011 season with a 27-6 record.In the 2002-2003 academic year the firstall-female SGA executive board was elected.They were Tiffany Meador, Kristin Allen,and Amanda BrownMelissa Hanna, a former editor of the PacerTimes, 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 budgeof more than $53 million. Employmentat the campus includes 372 permanentemployees. Students receive in excess of$32 million each year in federal, state,and private aid funds. This, along withan estimated 3,300 undergraduate andgraduate students, construction, andcontractual activities, bring the estimatedeconomic impact on our region to inexcess of $121 million. Additionally, the

estimated spending power of our studentsis more than $47 million.

USC Aiken Trivia

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15/20AS14-593504

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Congratulations USCA!

Thank You for AllYou Did For Me!

-Rocky L. Napier Class of 1976

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50 Years of Setting the Pace!

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USCA!



17/20

Eugene Sawyer vividly recalls how hehelped Bob Penland examine potential sitesfor USC Aiken decades ago. Today, hav-ing recently retired from the Aiken CountyCommission on Higher Education, Sawyermarvels at how far the university has come.

Its great to look at the audience (attodays graduation ceremonies) and see what

weve accomplished, he said.Sawyer was appointed to the Aiken

County Commission on Higher Educationin 1961 and served as its treasurer until hisrecent retirement this year. The commis-sion was established in 1961 to oversee thecreation of USC Aiken. Through the years,Sawyer has seen USC Aiken grow from asmall student body of several hundred tothousands at the Universitys present location.

At USC Aikens April Academic Convoca-tion, Sawyer was presented with a resolution

in his honor by state Rep. Roland Smith.

And at USC Aikens May Commencement,he also was awarded an Honorary Degreeof Doctor of Humane Letters, being laudedfor his enduring support of higher educationin South Carolina; for his achievements as abusiness and community leader; and for hispersonal commitment to high standards andethical principles.

Sawyer, a native of Clearwater, S.C., hasbeen an accomplished businessman in AikenCounty for many years through his pharmacservices and has been a strong supporter ofthe Aiken community and the field of edu-cation through his participation on severalboards.

Now that hes retired, Mr. Sawyer says heplans to enjoy some much deserved relax-ation and spend more time with his family:

wife, Anne; children - Scott Stuart and JaneDeanne Sawyer; and nine grandchildren.

Eugene Sawyerawarded for

supporting education

AS07-595067

We Congratulate USCA on their50th Anniversary! Our Appreciation

is extended for the impact theyhave made in our Community!

Congratulations USC Aiken

on 50 Years of Excellence!

Pictured from back left:Ashlyn Griffin, MargaretHurt, Valerie Laird, CassieHirsch, Janice Hauerwas,Natasha Canty, ErikDunham, Terry Gilman,Andrea Haltiwanger,Logan Bryant, EricLangston, Zorayda El, Dr.Robert Alexander, TommyMoore, Gina Kelly, AliciaHeath, Betsy Davis, JasonLangdale and ChristineLewis.

from the USCA alumni of Security Federal Bank



18/20

USC Aiken under construction...

ConstructionoftheAdministrationBuildin

gin1972.

MovingthePickens-SalleyHouse

in 1986.

ConstructionoftheGregg-GranitvilleLibraryin1975.

AS14-593507



19/20

THANKYOU

USCAIKEN

Aiken Standard employees & USCA graduates.

Tyler CrosbyAccount Executive

Class of 2010

John LoweryCopy Editor

Class of 1995

Karen KlockChief Copy Editor

Class of 2005

Stacey MosierWeb Content Manager

Class of 2010

Matt SochaSpecial Projects

Class of 1997

Terri CheekBusiness Manager

Class of 1999 & 2011



20/20

Still Settingthe Pace

for Your SuccessMeet our featured alumni,

pages 12 & 13

Frank ThomasAttended Banksia in the 60sNow: President,Security Federal Bank

Pam Galardiclass of 1977 & 1992

Now: Registered Nurse,Aiken Regional Medical Centers

Anthony Sampsonclass of 2007Now: Deputy Sheri,Aiken County Sheris Dpt.

Margo Goreclass of 1997

Now: Math Teacher,Kennedy Middle School

Documents

USCA 50th Anniversary