Archives For November 30, 1999
Scholarships play a vital role in attracting and retaining some of the country’s most talented and motivated students. There is no better way to help shape the future of a promising student than through supporting a scholarship fund. By alleviating some of the financial pressures students face, they are more likely to participate in research opportunities, internships and other programs that further enrich their educational experience.
We enjoy sharing stories about the impact of your generous support, and Momentum is just one of the ways we aim to keep you engaged and informed about what you make possible for our students, faculty, staff and campus.
Thank you for helping get all of our cougars back on the bricks!
Dennis Wright says he never planned on being a teacher. It wasn’t until he was encouraged to enroll in the South Carolina Teacher Cadet program during his senior year of high school that his “eyes were opened” to a career in education.
“I realized that I could have an impact on the kids that need it the most,” says Wright, who is one of eight freshman students recruited to the College by Anthony James, director of the Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program.
“Many of these young men have never had a minority male teacher, and part of my job is to visit high schools and let them know that teaching is a viable career,” says James.
Call Me MISTER is a state-wide program that was founded at Clemson University in 2000 and brought to the College of Charleston in 2007. Frances Welch, interim provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, worked with Acting Associate Dean of the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance Andrew Lewis and South Carolina Representative and former MISTER Director Floyd Breeland to enroll a half dozen students that first year.
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From the moment Kionnie Epps (pictured) stepped foot on its campus, the College of Charleston felt like home. And, as we all know, family is what makes a place a home.
“The College of Charleston family is wonderful,” says Epps, noting that the Office of Admissions’ Ken Grimmage and Fred Quick both reached out to her after her initial visit. “They made me feel really wanted, like I’d be a valuable part of campus. And the College of Charleston’s minority population is just so supportive and welcoming – like a family within the greater CofC family.”
Also supportive and welcoming: The Cracraft family.
“The Cracrafts and their generosity mean everything to me,” says Epps, a senior public health major and a recipient of the Cracraft Family Endowed Scholarship.
Inspired by the Willard A. Silcox ’33 Memorial Scholarship that their daughter, Kellee Ann ’15, received while a student at the College, Scott Cracraft ’83 and Janet Cracraft ’85 established the Cracraft Family Endowed Scholarship in 2015.
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“We’re just wild about Harry” was the phrase in the mind and hearts of nearly 300 friends and former students of Harry W. Freeman ’43 in establishing an endowed scholarship upon his retirement from the College in 1990. The sentiment also served as the theme for the gathering – where the new scholarship was announced – to honor his 39 years of service to the College.
“Anyone who was lucky enough to have had Dr. Freeman as a teacher remembers him as a special person, the quintessential professor and one who will be deeply honored if the scholarship drive is successful,” says James Smiley, then-chair of the department of biology.
The drive’s success is indisputable, as nearly $150,000 was raised toward the original $100,000 goal. As a distinguished professor and chair of biology as well as past president of the Alumni Association, it’s only appropriate that Freeman’s scholarship supports both areas.
The scholarship, awarded by the Alumni Association, pays tribute to his unwavering loyalty to the College and is available to relatives of alumni. John C. Duane ’94, son of John P. Duane Jr. ’57 and Ann Wulbern Duane ’60, was selected as the inaugural recipient. After graduating from the College, he attended the University of South Carolina School of Law and was selected as the 2014 Assistant U.S. Attorney of the Year, Charleston Division. He is now senior counsel at Motley Rice LLC.
When you have more than 300 senior citizens passionate about lifelong learning, like at the College of Charleston’s Center for Creative Retirement (CCR), it’s only natural that a scholarship for younger students would emerge.
In its 25th year, CCR is composed of a diverse group of seniors who share an enthusiasm for education. This self-governing group holds weekly meetings throughout the academic year and offers field trips to historical and cultural sites.
In 2004, CCR established the Center for Creative Retirement Scholarship. Today, it provides $5,000 a year in scholarships to students studying gerontology at CofC.
“With our growing aging population, it’s important that we recognize students who are focusing on the gerontology discipline,” says Jean Marterre, chair of the CCR scholarship committee. “In fact, it would be great to see a gerontology major or even a minor at the College.”
Kylie Vorhis, represents the 19th student to receive the gerontology scholarship. Vorhis, a sociology major and psychology minor, has taken two gerontology-related courses, works with respite care and conducts home visits for a life-care company in Charleston.
One of my favorite College of Charleston memories was taking field trips in my biology of fishes and invertebrates classes to “wade” knee deep into my field of study. After graduation, I plan to move out west and work in fisheries management. My scholarship helped me afford the extra price of an incredible study abroad experience sailing the Atlantic on an oceanographic cruise.
Kim Iv
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I really love my classroom experiences at the College, with helpful professors, amazing classmates, and interesting discussions and lectures. After graduation, I plan to go back to my country, Cambodia, and help improve my community and the social wellbeing of the people there. My scholarship has helped me make amazing friends and encouraged me to focus on my studies.
My favorite experiences at the College of Charleston have occurred in the School of Business, where I have participated in many special projects and groups. After graduation I will be moving to New York City and beginning my career with J.P. Morgan Chase in a 2-year rotational program for Operations and Strategy. I have truly been able to take advantage of all that CofC has to offer including traveling abroad three times and being a part of multiple extracurriculars. One of the main opportunities that my scholarship has afforded me was being able to secure the best possible internships over the summer without having to worry about working. I was able to focus on entering the fields I was most interested in, and fortunately, that has led me to receiving a full-time offer!