USCB Golden Jubilee Magazine

2009-10 COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT

801 Carteret StreetBeaufort, SC 29902

One University BoulevardBluffton, SC 29909

www.uscb.edu

FEATURES

Golden JubileeYour invitation to a year-long celebration

The University of South Carolina Beaufort StoryCelebrating our heritage, embracing the future

The Arts, Beaufort and the UniversityThe perfect marriage of place and program

PROFILES

Alumni Profile: Billy KeyserlingRight Place, Right Time

Faculty Profile: Lila Meeks“Everything that rises must converge”

Staff Profile: Vince MesericCounselor, coach and mentor

SUPPORTERS

Heritage Classic FoundationDecade makes a difference

University of South Carolina Beaufort2008-2009 Donor recognition

COVER ART:The Golden JubileeAmiri Geuka Farris 2009Artist and art faculty member Amiri Farris celebrates USCB’s 50 years of service to theLowcountry with this gift to the University. The painting, using mixed media on canvas,features Beaufort College, set in its beautiful Lowcountry landscape. The Sea Island birdsignifies the University’s flight into a bright future.

USCB Golden JubileeCelebrating 50 Years of Higher Education in the Lowcountry

Daybreakcasts lucent beams aroundthis steadfast native form –lowcountry legacywhose abiding designis enlightenment.

Burgeoning roots,nurtured by a half century’s growth,send rings of knowledgeup the buttressed base,degree by degree,through the furrowed trunk towide spreading limbs,fortified by terms of drought and flood.Unbent by the crosswinds of whim,they shape the broad canopyever outward, yet ever allied to eachgoldgreen shining leaf.

As light turns brighter in the branches,celebrate

the ennobled life of learning.

Come then, chancellor and chairmen,students, staff, faculty, friends.Drape the building in a bannerthat lauds every leaf and bough–and with a flourish gatherin the Carolina morning

underneath the witness tree.Mark the progress, poised for ages,

as we sound the jubilee.

P. Ellen Malphrus, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort

Witne Tree

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EDITORLynn W. McGee

ASSISTANT EDITORDeborah Reynolds

ART DIRECTION/DESIGNMarlys West

CONTRIBUTORSColleen CallahanLynn W. McGee

Lila MeeksDeborah Reynolds

RESEARCHDeborah Reynolds

Marlys West

PHOTOGRAPHYRon Casas

University of South Carolina Beaufort801 Carteret StreetBeaufort, SC 29902

One University BoulevardBluffton, SC 29909

[email protected]

USCB MagazineBuilding Connections. Serving USCB.

Fall 2009 • Volume VII Number I

This magazine builds connections be-tween University of South CarolinaBeaufort and its supporters with arti-cles on teaching, research, student lifeand community service. It highlightsthe activities of our alumni and friends.

Jane T. Upshaw, Ph.D.Chancellor

Lynn W. McGee, Ph.D.Vice Chancellor for University Advancement

Colleen CallahanDirector of Development

Golden JuleeJ U B I L E E F E A T U R E

Larry Rowland, HonoraryChair of the GoldenJubilee and USCBProfessor Emeritus (above).Larry Rowland 1984 (R)

e 5 leaders of University of South Carolina Beaufort since its inception.

John J. Duffy, Jr.Resident Director

1959-1966

Darwin BashawDean

1966-1983 and 1989

Rowland Tuttle, Jr.Dean

1983-1988

Chris P. PlylerDean

1990 -1999

Jane T. UpshawDean 1999-2002

Chancellor 2002 - present

Your invitation to ayear-long celebration

www.uscb.edu/50

is fall marked a milestone in the history of the University of South Carolina Beaufort:a half-century of service in the Lowcountry.

It was 1959 when the first fiy-seven students enrolled in the University of South Carolina’sBeaufort campus. Since that time, USCB has metamorphosed from an intimate two-yearschool, housed in what was once Beaufort’s elementary school, to a four-year baccalaureateuniversity. We are attracting noteworthy faculty and a growing student body, deliveringa winning Sand Sharks athletics program, and providing a full spectrum of student lifeexperiences on the Historic Beaufort and Hilton Head Gateway campuses.

In celebration of USCB’s progress, the lives higher education has changed and the excitingwork that lies ahead, a year-long schedule of special events has been organized for theUniversity family and the community to enjoy.

COMMUNITY CELEBRATION • MARCH 5 • HILTON HEAD GATEWAY CAMPUS

In March, Chancellor Jane Upshaw and Golden Jubilee Honorary Chair Larry Rowland,welcome renowned state historian Walter Edgar to provide a historical perspective oneducation in South Carolina and USCB’s role in the Lowcountry and across the state.

COMMUNITY CEREMONY • APRIL 6 • HISTORIC BEAUFORT CAMPUS

In April, USC President Dr. Harris Pastides leads a formal academic convocation tocelebrate USCB’s heritage, accomplishments and future. e University MedallionCeremony will be followed by refreshments on the lawn of the Beaufort College.

e Golden Jubilee offers something for all interests. Take a look at this year’s extra-ordinary Lunch with Authors series, the Historic Lecture Series recounting Beaufort’shistory from 1560, the USCB Festival Series of chamber music, studio art exhibits andthe new business Executive Speaker Series.

Event details are listed at www.uscb.edu/50. While online watch the video history ofUSCB. It is full of faces from the past and present and looks forward to a bright future.

During this year of reflection and celebration help us reconnect with those who havebeen involved with the University through the years. If you have a special memory orphoto to share, please visit www.uscb.edu/50/memories and let us hear from you.

e University of South Carolina Beaufort family looks forward to seeing you on campus!

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT | 5

Beaufort County’s commitment to higher education hasroots that extend 200 years into our state’s history. In 1795Beaufort College was chartered “to grant or confer suchdegree or degrees, in liberal arts or sciences…as are usu-ally conferred in other colleges in Europe and America.”e College opened with high hopes, but suffered adver-sities that at times overwhelmed its supporters and thescholarly, dedicated men who were its early trustees.

e faculty were first-rate scholars such as Stephen Elliott,the Maxcy bothers, James Petigru and William Grayson.e first college building opened in 1809. In 1817, ayellow fever epidemic that caused the death of one in sixmembers of the white population closed the College. Outof fear that the college building housed the epidemic’ssource, the structure was demolished.

e community again raised support for the college anda smaller Beaufort College Building opened in 1856.Within five years, its students were wearing ConfederateStates of America military uniforms. e College’s libraryand buildings were brought under federal control early inthe war. e library collection was taken to Washington.e facility was used as a hospital, a school for freedslaves, and then an elementary school.

For one hundred years, local access to higher educationwas interrupted by wars, reconstruction, hurricanes, the

boll weevil, the depression and the lack of political cloutin the statehouse. e Trustees of the College of Beaufortcontinued to meet, but they no longer had a faculty,student body, library or building to oversee.

BEGINNING AGAIN…In the 1950’s South Carolina citizens recognized the needto bring higher education to regional centers. A groupof Beaufort citizens appealed to the University of SouthCarolina and to the legislature for a branch campus tooffer the foundational courses required for baccalaureatedegrees. In the fall of 1959, the “University of SouthCarolina Beaufort Campus” reopened the doors ofBeaufort College with 59 students.

Dr. John Duffy, the first campus director, taught historyand led a small faculty that included several communitymembers. In 1965 the Sandstone building was built tohouse a library, a chemistry lab and several classrooms.By 1968 Darwin Bashaw was dean of “USC Beaufort,”a two year institution conferring associate degrees.

With growing enrollments in the 1970’s and ‘80’s, USCBexpanded into the adjacent Beaufort Elementary Schoolbuilding, purchased a neighboring house for facultyoffices and a historic building for an art studio, andconstructed the Marine Science building to expandlaboratory and classroom space. On its 30th anniversary,

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e University ofSouth Carolina Beaufort:Celebrating our heritage, embracing the future

H I S T O R Y F E A T U R E

Opposite page le to right:Beaufort College (1981);Art Studio (1981);Science Classroom (1963);USCB Cheerleaders (1966);Commencement (1981);Students in Library withnew technology (1998).

is page BeaufortCollege taken byUSC Photography 1981.

Dean Chris Plyler led a campus that served 877 studentsin classrooms, labs and offices integrated into a four blockarea of Beaufort. Its outreach included the Marine basesand a leased classroom facility on Hilton Head Island.

Community support continued to be strong. Dr. MargeYanker worked with Duke University to offer “creativeretirement” classes and travel opportunities. Withcommunity gis, the Performing Arts Center was profes-sionally renovated. Professor Mary Whisonant developeda world-class chamber music series and Professor JohnBlair introduced a student drama program. PhillipRhodes donated a 2500 acre barrier island, PritchardsIsland, to the University for conservation, research andscience education.

e process of structuring cooperative degree programswith USC Columbia and USC Aiken to enable USCBstudents to complete baccalaureate degree requirementslocally began in the 1980’s. Columbia awarded degreesin Interdisciplinary Studies and Hotel, Restaurant andTourism Management and Aiken offered degrees in EarlyChildhood Education, Nursing and Business Manage-ment. e growth in students pursuing these degreesdemonstrated the need for a baccalaureate university toserve the southeastern corner of the state.

EARNING BACCALAUREATE STATUS—ANDEXPANDING TO TWO CAMPUSESe Union Camp (International Paper) gi of 80 acresof land on Highway 278 and the need of the region gavenewly appointed USCB Dean Jane Upshaw the impetusto campaign for a baccalaureate university. Local citizensDick Stewart, Wes Jones, Brantley and Helen Harvey,

Beaufort County Council under the leadership of TomTaylor, the Beaufort Jasper Higher Education Commis-sion, the Beaufort College Board of Trustees, and manycommunity members combined efforts led to the 2002decision of the USC Board of Trustees and the state toauthorize USCB to pursue baccalauareate status.

Community leaders realized a new university needednew facilities. Space was limited in Beaufort, so a secondcampus to serve the expected student growth was pro-posed. In 1996 the Palmetto Electric Trust gave the leadgi for the Hilton Head Gateway campus. Brantley andHelen Harvey gave a million dollar gi in 1998. In 2000the Hargray Communications Group contributed $3.5million. Beaufort County Council established a Tax Incre-

ment Finance District that generated $27.5 million.Private gis and $4.0 million in state bonds provided theremaining funding for the $40 million campus. Groundbreaking for the “New River” campus took place in 2003.

e Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accred-ited the University of South Carolina Beaufort as abaccalaureate institution in 2004. at fall USCB openedits doors as South Carolina’s newest four-year universityserving students on the Beaufort campus and in theHargray Building on the new “South” campus. USCBoffered degrees in Business Management, Early Child-hood Education, English, Hospitality Management,Human Services, and Liberal Studies to 1277 students.

BUILDING A FULL SERVICE UNIVERSITYIn the next five years, full time enrollment grew by anaverage of more than 10% each year, degree programs

concentrations leading to baccalaureate degrees; six pre-professional programs including pre-law and pre-med;and 16 minors. e Hilton Head Gateway campus boastsa high tech science and nursing building, on-campus stu-dent apartments for 300, a technology infused library anda campus center with fitness facility and dining services.

Professors and researchers, supported by federal andlocal grants, are involved in efforts to preserve a healthyecology and healthy individuals. In a collaborative effortwith Western Carolina University, USCB is studyingbeach erosion and other coastal environmental concernson Pritchards Island.

Over 1600 seniors annually benefit from courses gearedto their interests in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute,supported by $2 million endowment from the BernardOsher Foundation. With the generous support of the

more than doubled, distinguished professors joined thefaculty, Sand Shark intercollegiate athletic teams in golf,cross country, track and baseball began competition inthe NAIA Sun Conference, and construction of the HiltonHead Gateway campus continued apace. USCB haspartnered with individuals, government, businesses,organizations, and private foundations to ensure thatthrough its mission of teaching, research and service, itresponds to the region’s needs, draws upon the region’sstrengths and prepares students to contribute to theircommunity as highly skilled professionals and morereflective citizens.

is year, 120 full and part-time faculty instruct 1684 stu-dents who are choosing from 12 degree programs and 11

Friends of the Festival, USCB’s fine chamber music seriescelebrated its 30th and most successful season.

In response to the critical need for baccalaureate trainednurses, and with exceptional support from Hilton HeadRegional Healthcare, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, andthe Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, USCBlaunched the region’s only BS in Nursing program in Jan-uary 2009. With state of the art nursing labs and “smart”classrooms on campus and area medical centers offeringclinical experience, students are receiving an excellentnursing education which will benefit patients in our region.

e recent initiative to focus the Historic Beaufort cam-pus on the arts is gaining momentum. e charm of the

historic district and the natural beauty of the region pro-vide an ideal setting that will be attractive to art facultyand students from our region and beyond. e B.A. inStudio Art opens in January 2010 and the vision for thearts initiative extends to other visual and performing arts.

With the legacy of community commitment to highereducation going back to Beaufort College, the strength ofthe University of South Carolina system, and its energeticgrowth over the past decade, the University of SouthCarolina Beaufort is well positioned to become thestudent-centered, community-engaged university ofacademic distinction that our region envisions.

e legacy of Beaufort College and the strength of SouthCarolina’s flagship public university are the dual founda-tions of the University of South Carolina Beaufort.

Le to right: Studentsin front of BeaufortCollege (1966);Dr. John Palms (L),Helen Harvey (C),Dr. Chris Plyler (R).

Le to right:Students in frontof Hargray building(2007);Dr. Harris Pastides, (L)Dr. Jane Upshaw (C)and Mrs. PatriciaMoore-Pastides (R)on the steps of Hargray,during Dr. Pastidesinaugural visit as 28thpresident of Universityof South Carolina(2008).

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H I S T O R Y F E A T U R E

What better place for a college campus focused on the arts than in the heart ofBeaufort, recently selected as one of the “Top 25 Small Cities for Art?” A thrivingbaccalaureate art program and USCB’s Historic Beaufort campus, located alongthe waterfront of Carteret Street, is the perfect marriage of place and program.Interim Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Harvey Varnet notes,“Arts on our Historic Beaufort campus make sense. What better place to study artthan in the middle of a historic town full of natural beauty which is receiving na-tional accolades for its rich arts culture. e arts elevate life – move us beyond ourday-to-day life and help us to think and reflect differently.”

e plan for a campus focused on academic programs that reflect Beaufort’sunique strengths began to crystallize when the University received officialapproval to offer a studio art major. USCB plans to invest approximately $200,000of federal stimulus dollars to jump-start a fortified art program. at moneywill go to renovate existing spaces into state-of-the-art studios and classrooms,purchase new art curricula-related equipment and create a ceramics studio.rough a generous gi from the Heritage Classic Foundation of the Lowcountry,two arts classrooms have already been modified.

e new art program will offer a high-quality, affordable baccalaureate degree thatbuilds on the best attributes of Beaufort and responds to the needs of the region.Studio Art program director Jon Goebel explains how the program will dovetailnicely with area art students’ needs: “Many Beaufort County high schools are nowdelivering quality arts education programs. Students who find that’s where theirpassion lies will now be able to pursue a four-year art degree and do it affordably,without having to leave the Lowcountry.”

e Studio Art degree will focus primarily on visual arts, but graphic and mediaarts are an important part of the vision as they become financially feasible. ecurriculum includes art history, within the context of the liberal arts. Studentswill be prepared for professional careers in the arts and graduate programs in finearts. e combination of an intensive liberal arts background, studio arts profi-ciency and practical experience will help students investigate and integrate theirknowledge. In today's technologically changing world, these three elements ofUSCB’s arts program will give graduates the foundation for a career in the arts.

e Arts, Beaufortand the UniversityThe Perfect Marriage of Place and Program


A R T S F E A T U R E

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GOALS OF THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN STUDIO ART

• Promote students’ visual and conceptual development with exposure to a widerange of artistic ideologies, styles, and media.

• Introduce artistic diversity in the visual arts by integrating both contemporaryand historical perspectives in the training of the artist.

• Engage students in activities that relate to the professional visual arts fieldincluding guest lecturers, exhibits, curatorial work, and community events.

• Establish a learning environment in the studio art discipline that encouragescooperation and collaboration with communities in the region andthe state.

• Provide students with a diverse choice of media, knowledgeable andexperienced faculty, and well equipped facilities to foster technical andcreative growth and development.

• Prepare students for careers or graduate level studies in the arts.

USCB seeks to ensure that all students who complete the bachelor’s degree inStudio Art are able to...

• Display well developed problem-solving, expressive and perceptual skills.• Understand various artistic ideologies and styles.• Demonstrate competence in a variety of media.• Demonstrate the ability to develop a concept into a finished work of art.• Describe the significance of art movements/achievements and artists in a

global context.

MEETTHE ART FACULTY…

Whether USCB students choose the new studio art degree in preparation for a careerin the arts or whether they take a few classes for enjoyment and skill development,they will have the advantage of learning from faculty with demonstrated skill andprofessional recognition. Meet USCB’s growing art department:

Jonathan Goebel, assistant professor, studio art. In his two years at USCB, Goebel hasadded new art studios to USCB and developed the curriculum for the Studio Art degree,which officially opens in January of 2010. He is an award-winning printmaker andserves on the Executive Board of the Southern Graphics Council.

Lisa Victoria Ciresi, assistant professor, art history. A Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Ciresihelped develop USCB’s new Studio Art program. Her research and publications focuson the use and perception of relics and reliquaries in medieval ritual. Dr. Ciresi teachescourses in the history of art.

Amiri Geuka Farris, adjunct professor studio and fine arts. Farris is known for hiscolorful, contemporary paintings. He was commissioned to create ‘e Golden Jubilee’,the cover art of this magazine. His work has been exhibited locally in Savannah andBeaufort and as far away as Russia. Farris was named the 2008 Artist-of-the-Year atHistoric Penn Center on St. Helena Island, South Carolina.

Roger L. Steele, adjunct professor studio and fine arts. Affiliated with USCB for morethan thirty years, Steele has exhibited across the country and internationally. Collectionscontaining his work can be found in e Library of Congress. Steele served the South-ern Graphics Council as Treasurer, Vice President, and Honorary Member. He is a pastBoard Member of South Carolina Arts Commission.

Art faculty pictured from top to bottom:Jonathan Goebel, Lisa Ciresi, Amiri FarrisRoger Steele

Shown above: Students pursue theirpassion for the arts in the HeritageClassic Art Studio.


A R T S F E A T U R E

Right Place, Right Time for Billy Keyserlingis clear that the personal attention he received on the cam-pus nestled along the banks of the Beaufort River helpedhim wrestle the power from his learning disabilities.

At the end of a successful academic year at USCB,Keyserling decided a formal education was indeed to bepart of his future. His sights were set on prestigious Bran-deis University in Boston. ere was only one problem.His learning disabilities prevented him from earning therequired test scores. at’s when a fearless Billy Keyser-ling did something that would send chills down the spineof many a college sophomore. He picked up the telephoneand dialed the President of Brandeis directly, ready toplead his case.

“I said, ‘I’m flying to Boston; I’d like to meet with you.’So I flew there and I told the president, ‘I’m never goingto get in unless you let me in. If you let me in, I’ll do youproud. Just give me a chance.” Keyserling’s wish wasgranted. He kept his promise, beat the odds and gradu-ated magna cum laude. “ose one-on-one relationshipswith USCB faculty members had allowed me to adjust thelearning model to one that helped me learn and gave methe confidence I needed.”

Aer Brandeis, Keyserling went on to earn a master’sdegree in public relations at Boston University.

e Mayor’s vision for the role of USCB going forward isclear and collaborative “I see the University as a partnerwith the community to grow Beaufort the way it ought togrow. at means building on who we are, building onour physical beauty through the arts program, building onour unique sense of place…e way to attract people is notto be like someplace else, but to be more of who we are.”

In a town where it’s nearly impossible to walk a down-town street or stop for gas without seeing someone youknow, it’s fitting that the University born in Beaufort hasclung to its reputation for intimacy and personal attention.Beaufort Mayor and native son Billy Keyserling says thatwas just what he needed when he found himself on thefence when it came to his college education.

Keyserling always knew becoming a public servant washis destiny. His parents modeled that role during hisyouth. e question lay in whether the route to his servicewould be by pursuing a formal education or by immers-ing himself in the world’s problems, rolling up his shirtsleeves and getting to work.

“I thought I would go to Appalachia and work to improvethe lives of coal miners and their families. But I decidedto come back to Beaufort and think about my future.Continuing with college at USCB that year was reallywhat the doctor ordered.”

e decision to return to his hometown to contemplatehis life’s mission was made as he completed his freshmanyear at the College of Charleston. Keyserling rememberswhat he felt was lacking from his educational experience,“e College had only 500 or so students at the time, butit had this air of formality. ere was just this distancebetween the faculty and me.”

Keyserling finished his freshman year with respectablegrades, but he struggled with learning disabilities. “I wasdyslexic and (had) ADHD, but of course they didn’t knowwhat those things were in those days. So I sort of fell intoUSCB. I thought, ‘OK, I’ve got this learning disability.I’ve made it a year (but)... I don’t know that I want to stayin college’. While I figured it out, USCB was an interimsolution.” As it turns out, the year Keyserling spent atUSCB proved formative. Its influence on him was rootedin the relationships he established with faculty who be-came mentors and friends.

“Darwin Bashaw was head of the school,” he recalls.“So, you’d go downtown for a cup of coffee, see Darwinand his bunch, go to school and hang out with differentpeople and become friends with the faculty.” Keyserling

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

Billy Keyserling,1960’s

Mayor BillyKeyserling in frontof a frieze he help toconstruct at age 16 –Sandstone building,Historic Beaufortcampus

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“I see the University as a partnerto grow Beaufort...building on whowe are, on our physical beautythrough the arts program and onour unique sense of place.”

Lila Meeks, a Flannery O’Connor scholar, may never have considered how well her favorite author’s title, “Everythingat Rises Must Converge,” describes Lila’s own 34 years of service to the University of South Carolina Beaufort.

A seemingly chance encounter at a Rotary Club meeting led Darwin Bashaw, the first head of the fledgling branchcampus in Beaufort, to hire the wife of the new young lawyer in town to teach an English class. However, Lila’ssubsequent career--as teacher, scholar, chief academic officer and advocate of the arts at USCB–demonstrates howone person’s commitment and talent can “rise” and “converge” to benefit an institution and a community.

Beginning as a adjunct faculty member, Lila found her abilities were acknowledged and she rose to full-time status,teaching English for seven years. Lila’s entry into academic administration just seemed logical to her colleagues: “Atsome point, Larry Rowland, our chief academic officer, wanted to go back into the classroom. Several faculty mem-bers asked me to consider serving in this role. I said I’d take it for a year.” Little did she know one year of servicewould extend to 18 years. In this role, Lila shaped the University through its faculty and academic programs. And,she helped to lay the foundation for USCB’s transformation to a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.

“e thing that I did that was most significant in those early years was hammering out arrangements with USCColumbia and USC Aiken to offer courses for some baccalaureate degrees taught by our faculty at USCB. For thefirst time, students could stay here and earn a four-year degree.” Recalling this significant step in the University’sgrowth in the early ‘80’s brings a smile of satisfaction to her face.

Lila shared the community’s vision to earn four year university status for USCB and was an active leader in thecampaign: “We worked so hard…e state already had too many universities, but it was our argument that ‘thereare none here and there should be ONE in this region.” Aer years of traveling the state with Dean Jane Upshawand community leaders to share the region’s need and the financial model, the dream was realized in 2002. “It washard work but it was gratifying,” she recalls.

Lila’s talents in “telling the story of USCB” led to another convergence—as she became USCB’s first vice chancellorfor advancement. In this issue of the USCB Magazine, she authors the USCB story for us once again (page 6).

Since retiring from the senior leadership team at USCB in 2006, Lila has continued to work for USCB’s communityoutreach group. She supports the Friends of the Festival Series who present the Lowcountry’s premier chambermusic performances, the USCB Festival Series.

Looking to the future, Lila is enthusiastic about the University’s new arts initiative in Beaufort. “I support it. I’mfascinated to watch it happen and I’m trying to help.” Once again, Lila’s talents and dedication rise and convergewith the vision for the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s growth.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT | 1716 | USCBMAGAZINE

“Starting as anadjunct facultymember was theperfect arrangementfor me,” Lila recalls.USCB had only twofull-time Englishfaculty members,so Lila taught thefull range of Englishcourses offered,beginning withEnglish 101, inevening classes atthe Marine CorpsAir Station.

Lila Meeks (1981)

Lila Meeks:“Everything that RisesMust Converge”

F A C U L T Y P R O F I L E

When Vince Mesaric earned his master’s degree in 1974, he started his career at a smalltwo-year campus, planning to move to a larger institution. Aer a few years of recruit-ing, admitting, advising, counseling, teaching, coaching, and helping students make thetransition to the Columbia campus to finish their degrees, Vince chose to make theUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort his career for 26 years.

His physical presence is commanding, but Vince’s conversational style is easy. Hisnorthern accent has soened and the pace of conversation—interspersed with humor—moves with southern graciousness. His memories of “parties at the VFW fairgroundswith 12 piece bands and beer served legally to anyone 18 or over…dress up Halloweenparties that were just fun...students building floats for the Water Festival parade...inheriting the job of basketball coach from Pat Conroy—and matching his win/lossrecord…supporting student government presidents’ initiatives, including a tennisteam…the coed USC system soball tournament…Sunday evening bowling league with12/15 teams…leadership retreats…student field trips…the student whose hand gotstuck in the candy machine…commencements honoring 10 or 12 graduates for whichthe faculty wives provided homemade refreshments…the librarian who smoked andplayed the guitar between student requests for help...the idealism and freshness of eachentering class that kept me going…and the return-to-college students who were such aninspiration” are vivid and warm, as are his loyalties to former USCB colleagues and students.

Vince can take credit for some of USCB’s accomplishments aer his retirement: “I wasrecruiting students on Hilton Head and met a young high school math teacher whowanted to teach for the University. I mentioned Jane Upshaw to Dr. Duffy, who hiredher.” Subsequently, Dr. Upshaw earned her Ph.D., progressed from the faculty to dean tochancellor, and led USCB to baccalaureate status.

Dr. John Duffy was resident director and Dr. Larry Rowland was chief academic officerwhen Vince joined USCB; they and other members of the “Monday Lunch Bunch” stayin touch today—and support USCB. Vince is a committed fan of Sand Shark baseball.He and his wife Kathy attend the annual University Awards Ceremony to meet theVince Mesaric Award winner. is honor is given to the “full time faculty or staff mem-ber who demonstrates commitment to working with students outside the classroomthrough active involvement with student organizations and student-sponsored activi-ties.” at’s Vince Mesaric—counselor, coach and student mentor—quite well.

Vince Mesaric:Counselor, Coachand Mentor

Vince Mesaric remembersUSCB as a warm, friendly

campus where students“made their own fun.”


S T A F F P R O F I L E

Vince Mesaric (far right)and USCB friends “Don’tDrink and Drive” (1985)

Heritage Classic Foundation:A Decade of Commitment to USCB

books and artifacts, the cases enliven student learningand engage community visitors.

When the Hargray building opened in 2004, the Founda-tion granted funding to equip the lecture hall with stateof the art technology, ensuring that USCB students andcommunity audiences would have excellent instructionaldelivery systems. e Heritage Classic Foundation Hallalso displays over thirty prints of original art depictingthe golf tournament winners and images.

Significant Foundation leadership gis to USCB alsoinclude a van to provide transportation between cam-puses and to athletic events; a gi to establish an endowedChair of Environmental Health Science; and funding tobring USCB’s library collection to the level appropriatefor a baccalaureate university. Across both campuses ofUSCB, the teaching and learning environment has beenshaped and enhanced by the work of the Foundation.

When they were successful, the Heritage Classic Founda-tion then became the means by which tournamentproceeds were re-invested in the community. Since 1987,the Foundation has donated nearly $18.5 million tolocal charities.

THE FOUNDATION’S IMPACT AT USCB

e Heritage Classic Foundation’s support of the Univer-sity of South Carolina Beaufort began over a dozen yearsago. One of the first gis funded for a sign on Highway278 which read, “Future Home of the University of SouthCarolina Beaufort.” It remained a solitary symbol in aswathe of pine forest and pasture until 2003 when theHilton Head Gateway campus began to take shape.at first gray wooden sign was then replaced by animpressive brick and wood structure, reflective of theUniversity’s new baccalaureate role and mission.

Last year, the Foundation helped jump-start the ArtsInitiative on the Historic Beaufort campus by funding theconversion of two classrooms into art studios. e gialso allowed the University to replace broken or outdatedart equipment. e two fully equipped Heritage ClassicFoundation studios are vital to launch the bachelor’sdegree in studio art in January 2010.

In 2006, the Foundation granted funding for the HeritageClassic Foundation Initiative for Student Achievementand Retention. Faculty and staff work groups studiedmethods to enhance student achievement and persistenceto graduation. USCB’s persistence rates rose to 57 percentin 2008 from 48 percent in 2005.

With the opening of the new library on the Hilton HeadGateway campus, the Foundation granted funding forthe purchase and installation of sealed, protective displaycases. By showcasing library collection highlights, rare

Charged with serving Lowcountry communities, theUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort has been stead-fastly supported by the region in which its history—andits future—are rooted. As USCB commemorates 50years of service, it is fitting that we recognize a localorganization that has supported us for more than adecade. e Heritage Classic Foundation’s generosity andcommitment has accelerated the University’s transitionfrom a two year campus to a baccalaureate university.

e Heritage Classic Foundation was founded in 1987to provide financial sponsorship for the Heritage ClassicTournament—at a time when many local citizens won-dered if Sea Pines and the golf tournament could survive.Rather than setting up a risk-taking venture that wouldbenefit themselves if successful, a group of generous andfar-sighted local businessmen used a non-profit, founda-tion structure to provide the financial stability, guidanceand direction the tournament needed.

– JANE T. UPSHAW, USCB Chancellor


D O N O R P R O F I L E

Above le to right:Hilton HeadGateway campussignage; HeritageClassic FoundationHall; Librarycollection cases;Initiative for StudentAchievementProgram; USCBAthletics Van;Heritage ClassicFoundation ArtStudio in thePerforming ArtCenter, Beaufort

“e Heritage Classic Foundation has been integral to USCB’sdevelopment as a baccalaureate university, to the shaping of ourof degree programs and to economic development in our region.”

John McKenzieChairman

Thomas JohnsonVice Chairman

Jane KiserSecretary

Earle HolleyTreasurer

LaVerne DavisVernita DoreSimon FraserTim PearceLawrence RowlandAndrea Smallwood

Ex-OfficioJane T. Upshaw, Chancellor

Weston NewtonChairman

Paul SommervilleVice-Chairman

Steven BaerRick CaporaleGerald DawsonBrian FlewellingHerbert GlazeWilliam McBrideStewart RodmanJerry StewartLaura Von Harten

In AppreciationOur Community Supporters

is annual report expresses our sincere thanks to our friends and supporters in the community who give their time, resourcesand expertise to further the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s mission in the Lowcountry.

BEAUFORT/JASPER HIGHEREDUCATION COMMISSION

BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL

Paula BetheaJohn BrinkleyEric EsquivelSimon FraserJennifer GreenWilliam HairBrantley HarveyGeorge HoodRobert HorningThomas JohnsonWilliam JonesElizabeth LamkinBonnie LowreyDouglas MatneyJohn McKenzieWilliam MilesDennis MontgomeryRose NewtonRobin PerellaJohn ReedWilliam RobinsonMartin SaulsJohn Wigington

Ex-OfficioJane T. Upshaw, ChancellorLynn W. McGee, Vice Chancellor

of Advancement

PARTNERSHIP BOARD

Senator Tom DavisSenator Clementa PinckneyRepresentative Curtis BrantleyRepresentative Richard Chalk, Jr.Representative Shannon EricksonRepresentative

William HerbkersmanRepresentative Kenneth Hodges

LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION

Dr. George Hood, ChairmanLeRoy Blackshear, Vice ChairmanHenry EtheridgeRev. Samuel GregoryHubert Tyler

JASPER COUNTY COUNCIL


DONOR RECOGNITION 2008-2009

Donors $1,000,000 and AboveBernard Osher Foundation

Donors $100,000 to $249,000Beaufort Memorial Hospital

Donors $10,000 to $99,999Heritage Classic FoundationAnonymousAnonymousMr. Mark JichaMr. Jon Charles JichaLoggerhead South Associates, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. William C. LortzDr. and Mrs. Jack B. McConnellDr. Jane T. Upshaw and

Mr. G. Thomas Upshaw

Donors $5,000 to $9,999Mr. and Mrs. H. Laurance FullerThe Hobbs FoundationDr. Charles H. KeithLow Country Human Resource

AssociationPalmetto Electric Cooperative, Inc.Mrs. Bailey SymingtonMr. and Mrs. Stuart TenneyHL Thompson Family Foundation

Donors $2,500 to $4,999AnonymousMr. and Mrs. Colden Battey, Jr.Beaufort CharitiesBeaufort Water Festival

Hilton Head Island-BlufftonChamber of Commerce

Mr. Charlie LeeMr. and Mrs. John T. MahoneyMrs. Rose Y. MarkMr. and Mrs. Wayne C. ReynoldsD. L. Scurry FoundationSCBT

Donors $1,000 to $2,499Mr. and Mrs. William AgnewAmerican Institute of Food and Wine

Hilton Head Island ChapterMr. and Mrs. William R. Barrett, Jr.Mrs. Margaret C. BashawMr. and Mrs. Austin BuckMr. Thomas Cable, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. ChildsChoate Construction Co.Cooperative Electric EnergyDr. Carl P. EbyMr. and Mrs. Dennis O. GreenHilton Head Area Hospitality

AssociationMr. and Mrs. Charles LeeMrs. Bonnie Lowrey and

Mr. Pierce LowreyDr. and Mrs. W. Brem MayerMr. and Mrs. W. Wallace McDowell, Jr.Dr. Lynn W. McGee and

Mr. David L. McGeeMr. and Mrs. Thomas H. OliverDr. and Mrs. H. Timberlake PearceMs. Ann Percival

In AppreciationOur Donorse work of the University of South Carolina Beaufort is made possible by the combined efforts of individuals, businesses,foundations, government leaders and organizations that support the university’s mission of building upon regional strengthsand meeting regional needs through teaching, research and public service. In partnership with you, our donors, we are creatinga distinctive baccalaureate institution in the University of South Carolina system.ank you for your gi.

is list represents all donors who have contributed gis of $100 or more during the last fiscal year, July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.Please contact Colleen Callahan or MJ Simmons in the Development office at 843.208.8258 or [email protected] if you identify an error or omission in this listing.

Prudential FoundationThe Sea Island Rotary ClubShelco IncorporatedMs. Marjorie M. von StadeMr. and Mrs. Landon K. Thorne IIITrinity United Methodist ChurchVortex FoundationMs. Barbara L. WelchMr. and Mrs. Millard Tom Wilson

Donors $500 to $999Ms. Ann R. BaruchBeaufort County Historical SocietyMr. and Mrs. William BerneMr. and Mrs. William L. Bethea, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Carlos BlackMr. and Mrs. William BonnevilleCRD of Hilton HeadCool Pak LLCMr. and Mrs. Henry Driessen,Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Bruce FryerHampton Lake, LLCMr. and Mrs. Kenneth HirschMr. Herbert W. JarvisMr. and Mrs. Paul JonesHarriet and Herbert Keyserling

FoundationMr. and Mrs. Pat McGarityMrs. Lila N. MeeksMr. and Mrs. Bo MohrMr. and Mrs. James MossMr. John PetrilloReed DevelopmentMr. and Mrs. John Runnette

Mr. and Mrs. Charles SchallerMr. and Mrs. Marion Roberts

Simmons IVBarbara Thomas and

Thomas A. GaspariniMr. and Mrs. Spike ThorneMr. Steven D. WimberleyMrs. Cynthia Warrick and

Mr. John Folts

Donors $250 to$499Mr. Joseph BarrMs. Sheree BinderMr. Larry BrownMr. and Mrs. John CartwrightMr. and Mrs. Charles DunlapMr. and Mrs. Clarence EidtMr. and Mrs. Bill FoxMr. and Mrs. Jim GibsonGaithersburg EquipmentGreenline ArchitectureMr. and Mrs. Robert GooginsMr. and Mrs. Gordon HaistMr. Shaun A. HardimonMr. and Mrs. Robert HorningMr. and Mrs. David C. HouseMs. Twyliah H. KerrMr. Kevin KingJohn & Karen McCormick

FoundationMr. Mark McDonaldMr. Bruce MilliganElizabeth N. MuenchNimmer TurfIn Memory of Jimmy NunneryOcean Woods LandscapingMs. Gloria OtleyPalmetto Economic Development

Corporation

Mr. Bert ReidMr. Terry RohlfingMs. Nancy ScheiderMr. Richard SebastianMs. Donna M. SproutMr. Mark SolowMr. Albert ThiessMr. Mike ThomasMr. Richard TooreMr. Harvey VarnetMr. Gary WhiteheadMr. Timothy WiebeMr. and Mrs. Fred WilsonMr. Tom Wolever

Donors $100 to $249Mr. and Mrs. W. Mizzell AlexanderAdvantage Building CorporationDr. and Mrs. Alex F. AlthausenBetty Anderson and AssociatesMrs. Pat Ashton and

Mr. Bob SteinmetzAtlantic Bank and TrustThe Honorable Karl M. Becker and

Mrs. BeckerMs. Colleen CallahanMr. and Mrs. Roger CoeMr. and Mrs. Richard DeLongMr. and Mrs. Gerhard C. EndlerMr. and Mrs. Eric H. EsquivelMr. and Mrs. Scrib FauverMr. J. Simon FraserMr. and Mrs. George E. GaylesMr. and Mrs. D.C. GilleyDr. and Mrs. John GrayMr. and Mrs. Steve GreenbergerMr. and Mrs. William HaysMr. and Mrs. Mark HelesDr. Robert J. Hohman

Ms. Hilda HolsteinDr. Akira IwasaJunior League of Savannah Hilton

Head Island SustainersMs. Jane LevitanMr. John LevitanMr. and Mrs. Edward LikeMr. and Mrs. Charles MitchellMs. Sally H. MitchellMr. and Mrs. Stephen M. MixDr. Martha A. MoriartyMr. and Mrs. Gabriel NagyMr. and Mrs. Arthur NameroMr. and Mrs. Bill NettlesDr. Douglas Alan OblanderMs. Nancy PrattDr. Blanche L. Premo-HopkinsDr. Melanie G. PulaskiMr. and Mrs. Carl RaichleMr. Howard L. RamseyMr. Jerry ReevesMr. Kevin RyanDr. John SalazarMr. Phillp N. SanfordMs. Theresa L. ScheetzLt. Col and Mrs. William ShermanMs. June SiegmundMr. and Mrs. Richard N.P. StewartMr. and Mrs. Mark ThomasMrs. Kate TorborgMr. John VannMr. and Mrs. Cecil Viverette, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Bruce A. WagerMs. Mary WhisonantMs. Beth WhitneyDr. Susan C. WilliamsMs. Linda WoleverMr. and Mrs. Ralph Zeiss

D O N O R R E C O G N I T I O N 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9


Foundation Awards and External Funding2008-2009

Golf Tournament

Town of Bluon: Water quality laboratory. D. Alan Warren. $325,000.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control: Statistical Analysis of Body Mass Index(BMI) Data on 3rd, 5th and 8th Grade Students in the Beaufort and Jasper County School Districts.D. Alan Warren. $4,000.

Beaufort County. USC Beaufort Port Study. John Salazar. $15,325.

Hilton Head Area Hospitality Association: Customer Service Training for the Hilton Head Area HospitalityAssociation. John Salazar. $1,750

Beaufort Jasper Comprehensive Health Services/March of Dimes. Together for Beaufort Adequacy ofPrenatal Care Coalition - Las Promotoras for the Lowcountry. Lynn Mulkey. $40,000

USC Research Foundation. MGS: Eyewitness Identifications: Cues to Accuracy. Jennifer Beaudry. $3,000.

USC Research Foundation. ROP: e misinformation effect in eyewitness identifications: An examinationof source, plausibility, and warning. Jennifer Beaudry. $10,000.

Heritage Classic Foundation. e Heritage Classic Foundation Studio of Art. Colleen Callahan. $35,000.

Silver SponsorChartwellsCleland Site PrepCooperative Electric Energy UtilityCummings CorporationJim FereeGulfstreamOkoniteReed Development/Hampton LakeShelco

In-Kind DonationCoca-Cola

Platinum SponsorThe Heritage Classic Foundation

Gold SponsorHargray CommunicationsPalmetto Electric

Our community so values higher education that it founded a college in 1795 and lobbiedfor a branch campus of USC in 1959. Our region advocated for baccalaureate status in2002, provides a major portion of our funding and challenges USCB to achieve more eachyear for our students, for the communities we serve and for the economic future and qualityof life of the Lowcountry.

My own life has been intricately interwoven into the fabric of USCB over the last 26 years.And so it is with sincere personal appreciation that I remember the many, many friends andcolleagues who have built, touched, changed and directed this University.

Without each of you, USCB would not have come this far and only with each of you willwe meet the challenges and opportunities ahead. Please stay in touch, encourage qualifiedstudents to aim for baccalaureate degrees, advocate for higher education, and work as afriend-raiser and fund-raiser for USCB. ank you for your support.

Jane T. UpshawChancellorUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort

Golden Julee flections

26 | USCBMAGAZINE

With appreciation for their generous support of theThird Annual Sand Shark Athletics Golf Tournament:

More than $40,000 raised to fund athletics and athletic scholarships for the 2009-10 academic year.

D O N O R R E C O G N I T I O N 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9

USCB Golden Jubilee Magazine

Documents

Transcript of USCB Golden Jubilee Magazine