Spring 2008 PDF - University of South Carolina Upstate

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Alumni Profiles 24 University Review campus as one of their fondest memories. “That was a historic event for USC Upstate and we were involved with the search committees and the inauguration,” they said. “It was an incredible time.” Stacey and Jackie consider their work with young people in the community to be one of their biggest accomplishments thus far. “Our family backgrounds and personal experiences have given us insight into potential obstacles that keep people from achieving their goals,” they said. “We partnered with Greenville Technical College at our church last spring to offer a GED program in the community. Twenty-two people enrolled in the class, ranging in ages from 18 to 75. Watching those who thought they couldn’t do it, prepare and take the GED test was definitely rewarding.” 1997 Tim Drummond Tim Drummond was a nontraditional student in more ways than one. Drummond actually started his first business before graduating. Currently an executive recruiter at his company, Drum Up Personnel located in Simpsonville, his experience at USC Upstate was instrumental in laying the groundwork for his successful career. “I wasn’t an excellent student, but I understood the value of a quality education and how it would benefit my career,” says Drummond. “I was taught the necessary skills needed to become a better business leader, a better manager, and better at building sound business relationships.” During his time at USC Upstate, Leon Wiles left an indelible impression on Drummond. “Leon Wiles is very passionate about helping students accomplish their goals. He always had a positive attitude and a way of encouraging students to do their best. He was definitely a role model,” Drummond says. Drummond’s biggest accomplishment to date has been obtaining his BS and MBA degrees. “It is very important for me to be a role model for my two sons,” he says. 1997 Joey Hines Every college student likes their pizza and beer, but when you use them to help explain economic principles, as Dr. Duncan Bailey did for Hines, “it allowed me to put economics to use in real life situations.” situations” A nontraditional student who commuted to school, worked 25 hours a week at his father’s business and interned at Merrill Lynch for 10 hours a week for two years, Hines feels that his degree in business administration with a concentration in economics from USC Upstate has helped him tremendously in the financial planning and wealth management career field. He worked his way up at Merrill Lynch from intern to client associate to financial advisor, and then left in 2004 to help build the wealth management firm, Global View, LLC, a company that now manages $130 million for its clients. As a certified financial planner, he works with individuals and business owners on retirement plans, education funding, estate planning and asset protection. Hines resides in Greenville with his wife and when he has leisure time he enjoys reading, hunting and fishing. He also serves on the USC Upstate alumni advisory board. 1999 Frank Allgood Frank Allgood may have been, in his words “an average [high school] student with average grades,” but this Earl Gordon Medal recipient proved himself anything but average in his time at USC Upstate. t After meeting his future wife, Jeneane (formerly Rekowski), during his senior year of high school, Frank began taking education more seriously and became very active in campus activities, University committees, the Spartanburg community and the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. “My experience was more than ink on paper at the end of a four-year term,” said Frank. “I was taught to be decisive, to be innovative, proactive and how to be a team player. More than anything, I was taught how to be a good leader.” Now the managing editor of GSA Business, the bi-weekly business journal for Upstate South Carolina, he credits his success in business with the experience gained at Upstate. “Perhaps the greatest challenge for most graduates is too many think in terms of a job and not a career. And they are not prepared to deal with corporate culture. My experience with SGA, Pi Kappa Phi, other organizations and university committees, as well as working as news editor for The Carolinian, equipped me with the tools necessary to succeed in business.” 1999 Kimberly Suber While there have been plenty of changes in Kimberly’s life since graduating from USC Upstate, such as becoming a mom twice, earning a master’s degree in
teaching school administration, and a move back to her home town – she says that two things have not changed. “At USCS I was known for my hair and shopping habits and those habits have not changed — I love shopping and being fabulous!” she says. Now pursuing a doctorate degree in education, Kimberly is enjoying being the assistant principal at Newberry High School, where she helps students “to understand their purpose and once they understand their purpose then they will know their possibilities.” This former member of the USC Upstate Gospel Choir proudly boasts that Newberry High has initiated its own gospel choir, with students readying to travel to New York for a competition. Dr. Warren Carson, who directed Kimberly in the USC Upstate Choir, challenged her to do more than just get by because “just enough was not good enough.” Kimberly says that Dr. Carson’s “confidence in my leadership skills and by sending me to a leadership conference, inspired me to be who I am today.” Kimberly graduated from USC Upstate in 1999 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in sociology and criminal justice. Tonya Beaty A teacher since graduating in 2000 with her master’s in education, Tonya is currently employed as a master teacher at Houston Elementary School, a 4K-6th grade school in the heart of Spartanburg School District 7. Named Spartanburg School District 7 Teacher of the Year in 2007-2008, Tonya was surprised to receive the recognition for her school and “totally floored” when she won for the entire district. When Tonya came to Upstate for her graduate degree she was working full-time as a teacher, and she was a wife, mother and taking classes part-time. “I was a hard worker. I could not afford to mess up, to fail any classes, or to be slack about getting my post-graduate degree because my family and career would suffer if I took any longer than I did getting my degree,” says Tonya. She credits Dr. Charles Love for contributing to her success as a teacher because he “gave us meaningful assignments that made us think on much higher levels then we were used to…he was fun in class but he was also serious about helping us become better educators.” When she is not teaching, she is an avid reader in her spare time. She also enjoys writing poetry, and has recently written a teen novel that she is looking to publish. Todd Hardy In the eight years since he graduated from USC Upstate with a bachelor of science in education, Todd Hardy worked his way from social studies teacher up the ranks toassistant principal and is now the principal of James F. Byrnes Freshman Academy in Duncan. With a staff of 60, Todd is responsible for the full operation of the school which is designed to provide the “fundamental steps for successful transition into high school” for students living in Spartanburg School District 5. Todd remembers his time at USC Upstate fondly, saying that Dr. Jim Charles was a mentor to him along his non-traditional path through college, and that he was well-prepared for his career due to the “wonderful, practical knowledge” he gained here as a student. Married for seven years, Todd has two children and spends his free time enjoying his family, church, reading and working out. Todd serves on the board of directors for the Middle Tyger Community Center, board of trustees for Piney Grove Baptist Church, and was runner-up for the Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change. Dan Collins Having attained the position of director of global operations for corporate security with Fluor Corporation, Dan Collins says that he had much support along his career path and as a nontraditional student at USC Upstate. He attended classes year-round in the evenings and worked full-time during the day, drawing support from both Dr. Eb Barnes, professor of physics, and his wife, Angie, who he says “was the sustaining force of the family during those years of school.” The scope of Dan’s job with Fluor, the world’s largest publicly held engineering, procurement, construction management and maintenance service providers, has led him to travel abroad extensively, including trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, to oversee security operations for the company. But family comes first when he has free time at home in Greer, where together they enjoy Alumni Profiles University Review 25
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Page 3 and 4: Susu and George Dean Johnson, Jr. a
Page 5 and 6: entrepreneurs and for life-long lea
Page 7 and 8: RUNNING For Peace RACING For Opport
Page 9 and 10: developed in the camera, they have
Page 11 and 12: University by Morning and High Scho
Page 13 and 14: Founders’ Day Celebration Honors
Page 15 and 16: USC Upstate a Stepping Stone BY CLA
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Page 19 and 20: is knowing that I affected so many
Page 21 and 22: her graduation from Upstate with a
Page 23: Michael Moton All the jobs Michael
Page 27 and 28: teaching was palpable, and her love

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