Good News

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Georgia College and State University (in partnership with Dr. Bailey at PC) has secured a $100,000 grant from the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation to launch a solar power certification course in rural Georgia. Participants will get high quality in person instruction on the design and installation of solar power systems, as well as a crash course in how to start a business in this sector. Dr. Bailey will be assisting in research activities and use his portion of the grant to study the feasibility of launching a similar program in rural Upstate South Carolina. https://pingeorgia.org/partnership-for-inclusive-innovation-announces-2023-community-research-grant-winners-anchored-around-cleantech/

Itzel Coria is excited about the plans she has after graduating from college! She will be getting married this summer and will be pursuing a degree in medicine at the University of South Carolina Columbia in the fall! Congratulations!

After graduation, Isabella Quatraro '23 will be promptly relocating to Alaska to engage in full-time vocational ministry with Thirst Missions by giving back and leading through mission trips. She will be continuing to serve others and living out our college's motto, "While We Live, We Serve!" Congratulations!!

Walter Todd ’82 of Laurens will be inducted into the S.C. Golf Association Hall of Fame in January. Todd will join 76 others who have made an impact on the golfing landscape in South Carolina. The 63-year-old has been in organized golfing since he was a young teen and won his first tournament in 1986. He served as a former president of the Carolina Golf Association (CGA), as well as spending time serving on the board of the CGA. Todd has won championships in both the SCGA and CGA Mid-Am championships events. He won the 2017 Senior Jones Cup and 2019 Senior Azalea championship while also winning three SCGA Senior Player of the Year Awards. One of his more recent wins came with his son, Neal, at the 57th Carolinas Father-Son Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Stacy Dyer, PC's director of enrollment marketing, lived out the college motto on Saturday, July 29, by helping distribute backpacks filled with school supplies to elementary, middle, and high school students from Laurens and Greenville counties. The volunteer effort was part of the United Way of Greenville County's School Tools initiative.

Computer Science senior Trey Davis is an early bird and secured his job offer in late January with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina as a mainframe programmer - he actually received two job offers from this large insurance company in Columbia, SC. He will begin the organization's unique Entry-Level Training Program (ELTP) on May 30, 2023, along with other recent graduates and will rotate through several areas of informational technology including application development, systems support, and network infrastructure and security before moving into a more permanent role. Trey says the chance to grow in his field and to connect with others in his cohort was very attractive.

Denim Day was a huge success on Wednesday, April 26. Millions of people across the world wore jeans with a purpose, showing their support for victims and survivors of sexual assault and committing to advocate for the end of all forms of sexual violence. Presbyterian College joined the movement by wearing denim and inviting vendors from Gateway Counseling Center, SC DHEC, and the Laurens County Police Department Victims Advocate. Congratulations to Addie Meeker who won the $25.00 Amazon Gift Card for her participation in the Bystander Intervention Bingo Drawing.

Mitchell Mercer, editor-in-chief of The BlueStocking, was named Collegiate Journalist of the Year and Outstanding Senior in Communication Studies by the S.C. Press Association in a March 31 ceremony. In the SCPA's collegiate division, 14 college newspapers across South Carolina compete in two categories: Division I for schools with an enrollment of less than 5,000 and Division H for those with 5,000 students or more. The BlueStocking's nine-award total was more than any other student newspaper in the state except The Tiger and the Daily Gamecock. BlueStocking journalists also won 1st-place awards for sports photograph and sports photo story, along with honors for opinion/column, sports photography, photo story, video, use of social media, and website.

Graduating senior Brendan Shaw recently learned that he was selected to receive the Frederick Douglass-James Madison Fellowship. This is a prestigious national award given to ONE student per year. The $24,000 fellowship will pay for Brendan to complete a Master's degree related to the US Constitution in preparation for his chosen career as a teacher.

Adrianna Cody gave an oral presentation on Graduate Pharmaceutical Science at the SC Upstate Research Symposium. Her topic was Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Navel Puromycin Analogs.

After countless meetings and rough drafts, it’s looks like the City of Clinton may be getting a new art feature in the form of a mural downtown. A partnership brought about by Barrett Moody with Lauren’s County School District 56’s Clinton high school has led to the areas first mural competition. Students from grades 9-12 will be able to submit a design and be chosen to be featured on one of the most visible walls downtown. Cheers to Clinton and it’s continuing growth.

Megan Whisonant '23 gave a presentation at the SC Upstate Research Symposium on the Effects of Dietary Iron on Taxonomic Composition and Function of the Zebrafish Gut Microbiome. She was awarded the Best Student Poster Presentation for the Biology-Ecology group. Megan has engaged in research with Dr. Swain, and was recently inducted into the newly chartered Eta Delta Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha. She will graduate summa cum laude in May with both a Bachelor in Science in Biochemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in history. Megan has been accepted into the Chemistry Ph.D program at the University of South Carolina-Columbia, and was awarded the Copenhaver Research Fellowship in memoriam of James E. Copenhaver, where she will be provided a stipend to conduct research this summer for 9 weeks.

PC Physician Assistant Program and School of Pharmacy students joined together to help the community. They held a health fair at the Clinton YMCA, where they took blood pressure and screened for diabetes.

Beth Paul '99 has been the General Manager of Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2015, managing the arena through challenging times, increasing operating revenues, profits, and the number of annual events. Managing the Greenville Arena District's 30-year Capital Improvement Plan, Paul is also involved in the venue's community outreach program. Prior to her return to the arena, she served as director of finance for the Connecticut-based Arena at Harbor Yard. Paul is a board member of VisitGreenville and has been selected for the Riley Institute at Furman University's Diversity Leaders Initiative (2016).

David Wise '83 was added to Greenville Business Magazine's Most Influential Hall of Fame. Wise has more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry, most of it spent with Greenville’s Harper General Contractors where he is president. He’s been both an advocate and a hands-on leader for his team at Harper, managing a diverse portfolio of projects in the commercial, education, institutional, and industrial markets. Wise also puts an emphasis on philanthropy, and the company has donated more than $1 million to local charities. Wise graduated from Presbyterian College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and business in 1983.

Dr. Shebby Neely Aiken presented the Jacobs Scholars Program to foster care and adoption agency administrators throughout at the Palmetto Association for Children and Families in Myrtle Beach on Feb. 22. She also served as a vendor at the Adoption and Foster Parent 50th Anniversary celebration at Jekyll Island, Ga. on Feb. 24.

Elizabeth "Lilibet" Wilkerson '70 recently published "The Vass Continent of Africa: A Love Story," in which she edited her parents' letters from their 30 years as Presbyterian missionaries in the Belgian Congo/Zaire/Democratic Republic of the Congo. WestBow/Zondervan published the book, Wilkerson's second. Her first book to be published, "The Diary of Rev. L.C.Vass: Chaplain, Stonewall Brigade," told the story of her great grandfather. The book was published by Author House. Wilkerson admits she edited the books rather than writing them, but she's still proud to claim her mother Winifred Kellersberger Vass' mantle and gift for writing. She's also proud to credit PC for preparing her for this work that she's been called to do. Copies may be found on amazon.com.

A former Blue Hose star on the gridiron is now a rising star in his community. Xavier Boatwright ’13 was recently featured in the Charleston Post and Courier’s “12 Black Leaders to Know” series for his transition from football standout to environmental advocate. The story, written by Post and Courier writer Rickey Dennis, highlights the tension between sports and science before Boatwright suffered a career-ending injury during training camp with the Detroit Lions. Boatwright has served as an environmental justice advocate working for Clean Water for North Carolina, the Sierra Club, and now as strategic partners director for the Conservation Voters of South Carolina.

Dr. Shebby Neely Aiken addressed this year's Black History Month theme - Black Resistance - with students at Laurens Middle School on Feb. 28. Her lecture focused on why Black resistance is necessary and how young people can change generational thinking on prejudice and discrimination.

Dr. Jamie Mitchell ’86 is completing his final year as editor of the Georgia Dental Association’s professional journal, GDA Action. One of Jamie’s earliest editorials was inspired by PC’s motto – Dum Vivimus Servimus – and he continues to be a strong advocate for oral health in his home state. He continues to practice dentistry in Monticello, Ga., where he has practiced for more than 30 years. He and his wife, Suzy, have two children – Matthew and Laura.

Lindsey Spires Griffin ’06 was named Young Professional of the Year by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce at the organization’s 119th annual gala last fall. Lindsey formerly served PC as director of annual giving and is currently executive vice president and private client advisor for Bank of America. She provides clients tailored strategies, including asset management, multi-generational wealth transfer, philanthropic giving, and debt financing. She and her husband, Charles, live in Columbia.

Dr. Elizabeth Henderson, PhD, is a recipient of a New Investigator Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). This award provides seed funding for her research, and she is one of 15 early career pharmacy faculty around the country to be selected this year. Read more on this award, its history, and the other 2023 recipients here: https://express.adobe.com/page/ypATHwGCZKkwH/.

Dr. Mary Douglass Smith ’04, Director of Experiential Education and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at PC, was listed as a 2022 “Pharmacy 50” award winner. The award is given to the “50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy,” and these individuals are chosen based on how they have impacted others. Read more here: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-50-most-influential-leaders-in-pharmacy-2023-awards-301716266.html?fbclid=IwAR0awdmARfgG14UdjCaXkNdzQtUMZkcPQh-NXAtZDS2oCiktse0tO14UoA4

PC students doing good work updating Calvert Park!! This is just the beginning of PC NAACP and its partner organizations/students' long term service project to give back and build community in Clinton and Laurens County. They're helping Laurens County Parks install/update numerous park/recreation equipment across Clinton and Laurens County.

The Presbyterian College Choir welcomed internationally renown composer Dan Forrest to campus for a workshop on some of his music. PC Choir is working on Forrest's piece "Come to Me" and is preparing his arrangement of "The First Noel" for the PC Christmas Concert on December 3 & 4. Bella Voce joined to work on their piece by the composer, "There is Faint Music," which will also be presented on the Christmas Concert. Music students had a chance to receive suggestions from Forrest about performing his music, and enjoyed the opportunity to have a question and answer time with the composer. We are grateful to the Bailey Memorial Foundation and PC Choir Alumnus Bob Link '77 for their financial support of the Choir, making opportunities like this a reality at PC.

Dr. Bailey and his two co-authors recently published their research on sustainability-focused local land use policy in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. In it they find that higher-density, "green" zoning is more likely to used by cities facing environmental stress and population growth challenges, among other things. Article link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09640568.2022.2133685

Reagan Turner traveled to San Diego, California to present her research at the Society for Neuroscience conference. Reagan has been working under Dr. Wei Lei for the past 6 months researching pain management in mice. With the help of Dr. Shull and Dr. Gordon in the Biology department, Reagan was able to travel and present a poster presentation on their work.

PC's student delegation, headed by senior Sarah Loftis, won "Best Small Delegation" at this year's South Carolina Student Legislature. This award is voted on by delegates to the student legislature, which includes students from all over the state. In addition, PC students Ralph Guerra and Hallie Ridings were elected by their peers to serve as the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.

After Charlotte McGuinness learned that Susan Gentry, Director of Counseling, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July, the ZTA sorority wanted to show support and bring awareness to this illness by offering items to help with recovery and well-being. ZTA surprised Gentry with gifts, love and support. Susan Gentry was overcome with tears of joy and gratitude stating, "this cause is so important to me because it affects one in eight women. The support I've felt while going through this process has given me strength and courage. These ladies are definitely changing the world for the better." Since its founding in 1898 ZTA's philanthropy has been Breast Cancer Awareness and Education. Nationally, ZTA raised $500K for breast cancer research this year alone.

Senior Kennedy Wright and career advisor Lynn Downie spent the morning of Oct. 14 supporting the United Way of Laurens County as volunteers at the 2nd annual Clay Shoot fundraiser. They enjoyed catching up with Dr. Norman Scarborough, who was one of the participants. The United Way supports the local community through financial support of area nonprofit agencies, community gardens, and a variety of other programs and initiatives. Dum Vivimus, Servimus!

One of our alumni, Dr. Alex Yarborough (2016), has written a children's book about getting a flu shot; Our Best Shot. Dr. Yarborough is currently a pharmacy manager with Sam's Club Pharmacy in the Columbia area. You can support her by obtaining a copy through Amazon.

On Saturday October 1, 2022, Dr. Afeli was honored with the award for Higher Education Teaching Excellence from the Ivory Coast government minister, Mr. Kouadio Konan Bertin. This is the first edition of this award, which honors professional achievements of Ivorians abroad. The ceremony was held at the Ivory Coast embassy in Washington, DC.

Barrett Moody, '25, had the pleasure of presenting a economic growth and development goal to the city council Monday evening. Project Expand is meant to bring a connection between the community, students and businesses.

Dr. Terry Barr’s latest collection of essays, The American Crisis Playlist, has been released by Redhawk Publications in Hickory, N.C. In his essays, Barr uses popular music as a means to cope with the politics of the last several years and the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a widely published author whose essays have appeared in a variety of literary magazines and reviews. Several of his collections, Don’t Date Baptists and Other Warnings from My Alabama Mother and Secrets I’m Dying to Tell You, are also available in print. Barr teaches creative nonfiction, modern literature, and film studies at PC.

After serving 24 years as the Graduation Coach and College and Career Counselor at B.E. Mays High School in Atlanta, Ga, BoBo Beasley retired on 6-30-22. At a retirement celebration, he was surprised with a proclamation from Andre Dickens (Mayor of Atlanta) and the City Council of Atlanta naming 6-24-22, Harold BoBo Beasley Day in the City. BoBo has seen over 5000 students graduate from high school and watch over 3500 attend post secondary institutions. He was blessed to have 10 of his Mays graduates attend Presbyterian College and graduate. BoBo and wife Paula have been married for 38 years and are the proud parents of Jessica Nicole and Dr. Harrison (Angelica) Beasley. They have four "granbees", Lennox, Jackson, Hunter and Elani.

PC's Voter Registration Drive registered nearly 50 new voters this past week. Among them was senior Will Pontoon, pictured here with Kennedy Wright (one of the event's organizers) with his mock ballot. In addition to registering students to vote, the Voter Registration Drive featured a real voting machine (with a mock election) and encouraged people to serve as poll workers on Election Day. Many thanks to the Political Science Club, SGA and the Counseling & Wellness Office for co-sponsoring this event! If you have not yet registered to vote, you can do so online at vote.gov.

Thirty students met Lima One Capital representatives to learn about careers in the financial lending industry with this growing firm headquartered in Greenville, SC. The Career & Professional Development office facilitated a panel discussion on the PC campus with four Lima One employees representing the areas of sales, mortgage services, analytics, and information technology including alumnus Kevin Yascur 2019. Students with strong problem-solving and communication skills are encouraged to apply and join an organization offering excellent benefits and competitive pay.

Scott Todd '12 was recognized by the Greenville Business Magazine as one of the Best and Brightest under 35. Scott was a 2012 political science major at PC and earned his J. D. from the University of South Carolina Law School in 2015. He has served as an assistant solicitor in the 7th and 13th Circuit Solicitors Offices before moving to private practice. In January 2022, he became a partner with Sumner & Todd, LLC.

Twenty students traveled to Costa Rica to learn about Environmental Psychology and Memory with Dr. Stephanie Freis and Dr. Sarah Burns. This was the largest Maymester group of the semester, and their focus was on Costa Rica's culture surrounding conservation.

Laurens County School District 56 names Olivia Craven Gardner, an 8th grade science teacher at Clinton Middle School, Teacher of the Year. Gardner is a product of the local schools and a graduate of Presbyterian College in 2015.

Jon Smith '11 has joined The Christman Company as a senior conceptual estimator in the construction management and real estate development firm’s office in Knoxville, Tennessee. “Jon is skilled at communicating project cost estimates and analytics and connecting with the trade contracting community,” said Marty Gibbs, senior vice president, and general manager for The Christman Company’s operations in Knoxville. “We’re glad to have him join our team to support project planning efforts.” Smith has already contributed his expertise to projects led by The Christman Company, including at Smith & Wesson in Maryville, Tennessee. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Presbyterian College and has worked in construction since 2011.

Keshia McCrary Tiemann '06 was recently elevated to a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP in Atlanta. Keshia is a member of the firm's labor and employment practice and handles disputes and counsels clients on employment-related matters.

Dr. Bob Bryant, Dr. Jim Thompson, and Dr. Julie Meadows led a group of PC students on a Maymester trip in Charleston county. Sixteen students from Dr. Bryant's Wilderness class camped in the Francis Marion National Forest for a weekend this past spring. During the wilderness trip, they trekked through part of the Cape Romain Wilderness and National Wildlife Refuge to Bulls Island and back again.

Rising sophomore, Barrett Moody, was selected to participate in GE's Dare to Lead Women's Leadership conference this summer. The 2-day career and leadership conference was designed to help underrepresented female students of color uncover professional passions and unlock their career possibilities. The opportunity was shared by 2002 Alumni, Ja'Net Vicks through the Career and Professional Development office.

Dr. Trey Wingerson, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, presented his research, "A Debate on Alteplase for Ischemic Stroke," at the annual South Carolina Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SCSHP) meeting in the spring.

Dr. Mike Rischbieter and Dr. Jim Wetzel led a group of students on a Maymester trip to the Galapagos Islands this past spring. The group's two-week exploration of the Galapagos included taking a 10-mile hike up the side of an active volcano and snorkeling. This year marks the seventh year Dr. Rischbieter has taken PC students to the Galapagos.

Rising junior Kasey Battle is spending the summer exploring her medical career options by participating in Prisma Health's MedEx Academy. A biology major and English minor, Battle plans to go to medical school and pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology after graduating from PC.

Dr. Roy Campbell and Dr. Mike Nelson led students on a Maymester trip to Fiji in June. The students learned about the history, culture, and climate of the islands in their Maymester course before traveling from island to island. The students snorkeled, hiked, went scuba diving, and more during their adventure 7,500 miles away from the PC campus.

Theta Chi raised $1,300 for the USO in the fraternity's first-ever "Goodest Boy Competition." Last semester, several PC students submitted photos of their dogs, and students voted on the dog they like most at the rate of $1 per vote. The winner of "The Goodest Boy Competition" was a female cat.

Ashby Jones '95 received the University of South Carolina’s Compleat Lawyer Award for 2022. The University of South Carolina School of Law Alumni Council established the award in 1992 to recognize alumni for outstanding civic and professional accomplishments to their community. Recipients are individuals who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and exemplify the highest standards of professional competence, ethics, and integrity. This is the most prestigious award given by the University of South Carolina’s School of Law.

Two members of The BlueStocking newspaper staff won awards in the South Carolina Press Association 2021 Contest this past spring. Mitchell Mercer won first place for Division I Sports Story and first place for Division I Sports Photograph. Sharecka Byrd won third place for Division I Arts and Entertainment.

Dr. Mary Douglass Smith, director of experiential education and assistant professor of pharmacy practice, co-authored "Developing clinical reasoning: An introduction for pharmacy preceptors" in the Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Smith collaborated with Dr. Lindsey M. Childs-Kean, from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, and Dr. Kathryn J. Smith, from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy. https://accpjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jac5.1624

Dr. Talisha Ratliff received the Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award at the annual South Carolina Pharmacy Association convention in June.

Dr. Kelly Clark received the Ken Couch Distinguished Mentor Award at the annual South Carolina Pharmacy Association convention in June.

Stephanie McLaughlin Rawlinson '93 was elected to serve a second term as chairman of the South Carolina Commission for Disabilities and Special Needs. South Carolina governor Henry McMaster appointed Rawlinson to the commission in 2020, and the South Carolina Senate confirmed it. Since assuming the chairmanship, Rawlinson has spearheaded efforts to improve access to services and develop cooperative relationships with other state agencies to create joint programs which will benefit the disabled community of SC. Rawlinson also serves on the Shepherd Center Consumer Advisory board in Atlanta. She was appointed to this position in 2017 after her family was involved in a tragic automobile accident which left her daughter, Mary Catherine, a quadriplegic.

Drs. Mary Douglass Smith, Katie Ellis, & Erika Tillery presented their research, "Vaccines and Lingering Hesitancy: A Systematic Review," at the South Carolina Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SCSHP) meeting in the spring.

Wendy Stewart '93 was recognized as the Dining for a Difference Community Impact Award honoree for her personal investment and commitment to connecting and inspiring leaders to strengthen metro Atlanta's communities. Stewart, president of Global Commercial Banking for Bank of America, has worked with the GROVE PARK FOUNDATION INC to tackle the systemic issues of poverty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdW6r5h9KQI

Dr. Mary Douglass Smith and Susi Carbonneau's article, "Job Crafting in OEE," was published in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy's Experiential Education Section Winter Newsletter.

Dr. Eileen Ward earned the distinction of being an "Outstanding Reviewer" and received a Certificate of Excellence for her work as a member of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA) Editorial Advisory Board for the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). Ward, an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, at the PC School of Pharmacy will serve on the editorial board until 2025.