Partnerships - The University of South Carolina Aiken

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Proud Partner T his year, the Aiken Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) celebrates its 55 th year. From the beginning, this active and dynamic group of women has reached out to the community in many ways. In fact, in the late 50s and early 60s, the early leaders of AAUW played a critical role in the creation of USC Aiken. Partnering with the local legislative delegation through the efforts of Senator Ed Cushman, the group worked tirelessly to show the strong interest and need for higher education in this area. rewarding sense of pride “The original premise of AAUW is to promote education for women and we have always taken this charge seriously,” said President Bea Peyser. “We share a special relationship with the USC Aiken campus and feel a great sense of pride for our part in bringing higher education opportunities to Aiken County.” Their relationship with USC Aiken did not end with the creation of the campus in 1961. Over the years, AAUW members have been supporters of the University including their work to begin the first library for the campus and their creation of an annual scholarship. The annual full-tuition scholarship is funded through one of the most successful events held by the Aiken Branch of AAUW. The Books N’ Things Fair makes used books and attic treasures available to the community over a two-day period. The Fair will be held for the 46 th consecutive year in 2008 and has grown to be highly successful with enthusiastic support from the local community. “We have been very fortunate to receive terrific support from the community for our book fair,” said Peyser. From the proceeds, the group provides financial support through the AAUW Educational Foundation along with USC Aiken scholarship and many other worthy community projects. “Even though we have been giving a scholarship for many years, there continues to be a sense of excitement,” said Peyser. “Having the opportunity to meet the young women receiving the scholarship and knowing we have made a difference in their lives is quite rewarding.” AAUW members (left to right) Ginny Brooks, Deidre Martin, Bea Peyser, and Fern Brooks Recently, the organization took their commitment a step further by creating a permanently endowed scholarship fund with the Aiken Partnership. This endowed scholarship will benefit an Aiken County female student who transfers to USC Aiken from Aiken Technical College. The scholarship is designed to reach out to students who may be “non-traditional” in their efforts to pursue their education. difference in their lives “Our members felt a strong desire to reach out to women coming into higher education through less traditional means,” said Peyser. “Having both the annual full-tuition scholarship for a traditional undergraduate student and the newly created endowed scholarship for a non-traditional student allows us to expand our commitment to providing educational opportunities for women. We are proud to partner with USC Aiken in both of these ways.”
Making A Ripple F or SRP Federal Credit Union, education has always been front and center. From the elementary level all the way up the ranks to higher education, the notfor-profit financial cooperative is active in the Aiken community and beyond. Whether it’s donating Child Identification Kits to public school children, educating kids about the importance of saving money, or providing funding for college scholarships, SRP does it all. According to Ed Templeton, the organization’s president, these decisions to support so many local educational programs are vital components to the SRP philosophy. “Education really is the key to everything that we believe in,” he said, “and it’s our way of giving back to the community that we are so proud of and so active in.” we believe in the people SRP has long been a supporter of USC Aiken programs and initiatives, including the annual Science Education Enrichment Day (SEED) and the USCA Baseball team’s rodeo fundraiser. Recently, the organization made a contribution to the new USC Aiken Convocation Center, providing funding for an Athlete Study Area in the facility. The Study Room contains several carrels with computers, providing student athletes a quiet place to study or work on assignments in between classes, practices, or games. “We believe in education,” Templeton said. “We believe in the Convocation Center. We believe in people.” The common tie among all three of those things, he said, is the Study Center. Templeton explained that because the Convocation Center is the place where so many student athletes spend the bulk of their time, the concept of the study room just made sense to the folks at SRP. Ed Templeton with student-athlete Lyvia Hughes in the SRP Federal Credit Union Athlete Study Area “If I’m going to excel educationally, put me in a situation that encourages me to excel. Put me in a situation where I’m comfortable learning. [The Convocation Center] is their home,” Templeton said of the student athletes. “They’re in a place where they’re comfortable, and they’re not intimidated. They can live, work, play, and learn all in one facility.” 10 make multiple ripples USC Aiken Chancellor Tom Hallman said he shares Templeton’s view. “Student athletes at our University must balance the demands of their sport with the challenges of the classroom,” he said. “The SRP Federal Credit Union Athlete Study Area has made a tremendous difference in our ability to provide student athletes with the support they need to excel in the classroom as well as on the playing court or field.” Templeton said he views the Aiken community as the “heart and soul of SRP Federal Credit Union.” He said that supporting the University, along with other educational programs in the area, will “hopefully make [Aiken] an even better community for everyone.” He also had some advice to offer other businesses who are interested in giving back the local community. “If you’re looking to get involved,” Templeton said, “don’t feel like you’ve got to make the biggest splash in the world. Just make a ripple, but make multiple ripples on multiple occasions. That’s what it’s all about—not doing something big one time and walking away, but rather doing little things over and over.” a beter community
Page 1 and 2: Celebrating Partnerships Donor Repo
Page 3 and 4: Giving Back the right thing to do A
Page 5 and 6: Why We Gave An Anonymous Gift Y ou
Page 7 and 8: Paying help someone It Forward H e
Page 9: Endowment $25,000,000 $20,000,000 $
Page 13 and 14: 2006-2007 Honor Roll of Donors Chan
Page 15 and 16: Benefactor’s Club Contributors wh
Page 17 and 18: Mr. Wayne Barr Mr. Travis R. Barret
Page 19 and 20: Dr. Douglas L. Kuck Kyle and Compan
Page 21 and 22: Mr. & Mrs. Lewis C. Whittle Mrs. Ma
Page 23 and 24: Dr. Robert E. Botsch Mr. Leon L. Bo
Page 25 and 26: Mr. & Mrs. Gary A. Frame Ms. Amelia
Page 27 and 28: Dr. Richard M. & June F. Wallace Me
Page 29: Julia Thurlow Watson Endowment for

Partnerships - The University of South Carolina Aiken

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