Dec. 10 - Dec. 14 12 Advancing to higher heights: Sustaining the Legacy of the Bulldog Battalion Dr. M. Maceo Nance, Jr. Posthumously Honored For Life of Legacy Calling All Graduating Seniors! FAU doctoral student benefits from award, hopes to pay it forward Page 2 > page 3 > Page 5 > Page 7 > Earl Stafford Keynotes Fall 2012 Commencement Ceremony By Ashley Elliott More than 200 SC State University graduates will march across the stage of the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 at 9 a.m., during the Fall Commencement Convocation Ceremony. Earl W. Stafford, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Stafford Foundation, a faith-based non-profit organization founded on promoting the principals of Jesus Christ, will serve as the keynote speaker. The Stafford Foundation provides support and assistance to the underserved and the socially and economically distressed in order for them to Earl W. Stafford become self-reliant. Established in 2002, the Foundation also created and funded the People s Inaugural Project which brought together over 400 of the nations underserved and marginalized to witness and participate in the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama. The foundation also collaborates with many established nonprofit organizations throughout the nation to address and support programs that deal with poverty, education and unemployment. With the endorsement and support of Dr. Bill Cosby, the foundation launched its nationwide Doing Good campaign, created to inspire and encourage people across all socio-economic levels to get involved and volunteer their efforts to help make their communities and the world better. The foundation has received widespread recognition and awards for its philanthropic efforts. Stafford also serves as the CEO of The Wentworth Group, LLC, a privately-held holding company that provides essential business services and growth investment support to commercial, technology-focused small businesses. Prior to assuming his current position, Stafford served as the chairman and CEO of Universal Systems & Technology, Inc. (UNITECH), an advanced training and simulation technology company that provided innovative solutions to solve mission-critical military, national security and counterterrorism issues worldwide. Prior to entering the corporate world, Stafford had a distinguished career in the U.S. military which included service as the assistant Air Force Liaison Officer to the Federal Aviation Administration. He currently serves on the boards of the Horatio Alger Association, the Wesley Theological Seminary, the Venture Philanthropy Partners, the Apollo Theater Foundation, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Morehouse College Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership. Stafford received a Presidential appointment to the President s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Stafford holds a bachelor s degree in business from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an MBA from Southern Illinois University. He is a graduate of the OPM executive program at Harvard Business School and has received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Virginia State University. Stafford and his wife Amanda reside in McLean, Va.
Advancing to higher heights: Sustaining the Legacy of the Bulldog Battalion For more than 60 years, SC State University s Army ROTC Program, also known as the Bulldog Battalion, has molded and shaped the lives of many young men and women. The officers that have matriculated through SC State s ROTC program and pursued a career in the profession of arms are part of what is affectionately known as The Long Green Line among the SC State University Military Alumni (SCSUMAA). Former cadets of the Bulldog Battalion pursue advancement opportunities in the Army. Three junior officers, 2nd Lt. Philip Burk, 2nd Lt. Abraham Hutchinson and 2nd Lt. Phillip Robinson received the By Antia Dawkins (L to r) 2nd Lt. Phillip Burke, Capt. Herbert Gamble and 2nd Lt. Abraham Hutchinson. Not pictured 2nd Lt. Phillip Robinson Army Achievement Medal for their contributions to the Bulldog Battalion while serving as gold bar recruiters for the SC State University Army ROTC Program. They assisted with the recruiting, training and leader development of cadets at SC State, Claflin University and Voorhees College. 2nd Lt. Burke, 2nd Lt. Hutchinson and 2nd Lt. Robinson are former cadets of the Bulldog Battalion but returned to the University to assist the ROTC department in its mission to train and develop tomorrow s leaders. 2nd Lt. Burke believes that the Bulldog Battalion taught him skills to succeed in any environment. The Bulldog Battalion taught me professionalism, leadership and accountability. It instilled in me character traits that I can take with me wherever I go in this world, said 2nd Lt. Burke. Since its establishment, SC State s Army ROTC Program has always instilled perseverance and commitment in each one of their members. 2nd Lt. Hutchinson believes that he not only learned how to persevere, but also how to respect people from different and diverse backgrounds. By serving in the Bulldog Battalion, it taught me good time-management, leadership and respect for myself and others, said 2nd Lt. Hutchinson. Embarking on better opportunities to be leaders in a global society, 2nd Lt. Burke and 2nd Lt. Hutchinson were both commissioned in May 2012 and will soon be traveling to Fort Lee, located in the city of Petersburg, Vir. to attend the Basic Officer Leadership Course for 16 weeks. Capt. Herbert Gamble served as an assistant professor of Military Science for 18 months in the Bulldog Battalion. Upon his departure, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for exceptionally meritorious service for duties performed as an assistant professor of Military Science. Capt. Gamble was the primary ROTC structure for cadets at Voorhees College in Denmark, S.C. He also was the liaison between the National Guard and the SC State University Army ROTC Program. The Bulldog Battalion instilled in me hard work, dedication and the importance of working in a team. If I could describe the Bulldog Battalion, it would be tenacious! In the Bulldog Battalion, we have a fighting attitude and we will never surrender, Capt. Gamble exclaimed. Capt. Gamble s next assignment will be as an acquisition contracting officer at the National Guard Bureau located in Arlington, Vir. Lt. Col. Derrick Corbett believes that vision, teamwork and commitment contributes to the success of the Army ROTC Program and appreciates the dedication of each member of his team. It was definitely value added with these guys on our team. I appreciate what you guys have given to me and the Bulldog Battalion. Continue to go hard and continue to strive to be the best, he continued. A rmy ROTC 2012 Fall Commissioning Ceremony Friday, December 14, 2012 at 2 p.m. Dr. Barbara A. Vaughan Fine Arts Recital Hall
Dr. M Maceo Nance, Jr. Posthumously Honored For Life of Legacy By Ashley Elliott and Issis Massaro Dr. M. Maceo Nance, Jr., fifth president of (then) South Carolina State College, was posthumously inducted into the South Carolina Higher Education Hall of Fame by the Harry M. Lightsey, Jr. Society, located in the Columbia, S.C. The event was sponsored by the Spartanburg Regional Foundation and included a number of speakers and a video tribute from close friends. Because of Dr. Nance s strength and personality, his ability to engage students, and his sincerity made the difference in how students reacted, said John W. Matthews, Jr. of the South Carolina Senate. Nance was credited for his leadership throughout the Orangeburg Massacre, Dr. M. Maceo Nance, Jr. while nurturing SC State College back to health during that critical historic moment. His mentality of leadership was that our duty and our responsibility is a mission that we cannot fail. He did not view failure as an option and was determined to make a difference. He wasn t perfect. He d be the first person to acknowledge that, but he did an enormous amount for this institution and for the African-American community in South Carolina and for the larger state of South Carolina, said Dr. William Hine, professor of History at SC State University. Nance was given the credit for laying the groundwork for what today is a globally competitive institution that is among the top institutions in the nation for producing African-American college graduates. He encouraged the transformation at SC State from being limited to producing teachers and farmers to a University that shapes leaders in every career field. During his 19-year tenure, he had many great accomplishments. One in particular was the establishment of the I.P. Museum and Planetarium. Nance initiated the idea of a museum and through his dedication and determination, he achieved that goal, which faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community enjoy today. With this addition to the college campus, SC State was no longer just an agricultural college, but a college of the arts, as the I.P. Stanback Museum became the first of its kind in the state of South Carolina to include a planetarium. Nance s induction into the South Carolina Higher Education Hall of Fame is just one of many awards that were bestowed upon the Orangeburg, S.C. native. His contributions were not only made to South Carolina State College, but to the local community, the state of South Carolina and the nation, which brought him a plethora of accolades, honors and awards. He was the recipient of honorary degrees from Morris Brown College, Francis Marion College, the University of South Carolina, The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina and Clemson University. Other honors include: the coveted Outstanding Civilian Service Medal by the Department of the Army, SC State s ROTC Hall of Fame member, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame member; South Carolina State College Athletic Department Hall of Fame member and recipient of the Outstanding Administrator s award presented by the South Carolina Personnel and Guidance Association. The South Carolina University Board of Trustees, the University s governing body that his son Robert Nance is currently a member of, named him President Emeritus upon his retirement on June 30, 1986. Africa Revisited: The Art of Power and Identity The I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium Exhibition on display through August 2013 9:00 a.m. till 5:30 p.m. and weekends by appointment (803) 536-7174
Calling All Graduates! aturday ecember Smith-Hammond-Middleton 2012 Fall Commencement Ceremony S,D 15, 2012 9.. at a m Memorial Center Can you believe it? You finally accomplished your first step to success, graduating from SC State University. Congratulations! At SC State University, we know that there are many exciting experiences you ve gained while walking the classic groves and halls of the University. If you have a unique story that you would like to share with your peers and stakeholders of the University, the Office of University Relations and Marketing would like to hear from you? Are you graduating with an immediate family member? Did you maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout your tenure at the University? Was there an event that occurred in your life, where you thought that you were not going to be able to accomplish your dream, but you did? Is there a legacy of SC State University graduates in your family? If so, contact Antia L. Dawkins, Public Relations Specialist at (803) 533-3713 or adawkins@scsu.edu. Congratulations Class of 2012 on all of your future endeavors!
SC State Alumnus, Richard Roundtree Appointed First African-American Sheriff-Elect for Richmond County By Antia Dawkins Recently, SC State University alumnus, Richard Roundtree was appointed as the first African-American sheriff-elect for Richmond County located in Augusta, Ga. In more than 230 years of the office, Roundtree is stepping into one of the most authoritative positions in Richmond County. After a year of campaigning, Roundtree was elated and full of emotion as his name appeared on the television. When the final numbers came in, it was kind of surreal at the moment and it didn t set in exactly what the accomplishment was. I looked around the room and saw a number of diverse people there, exclaimed Roundtree. A number of African-Americans and other diverse people were Richard Roundtree, 91 there, they were crying and that showed me how significant that moment really was, he continued. Growing up in Augusta, Ga., Roundtree aspired to rise above his circumstances. In 1987, Roundtree graduated from T.W. Josey High School with a full football scholarship as an offensive lineman to attend South Carolina State College now SC State University. While attending SC State University, he pursued a degree in engineering for two years, before he had a change of heart which was to work as a police officer and defend and protect citizens. As a student, Roundtree was a member of the Criminal Justice Club and SC State s Football Program for four years. He also interned with SC State s Campus Police, which prepared him for the position he now holds. Subsequent to graduating from SC State in 1991, the Augusta, Ga., native began working as a part-time security officer at Regency Mall. Roundtree is forever grateful of the capabilities gained at SC State. The experience at SC State University molded me to be the person that I am today. I am an extreme advocate for the experience at SC State. Each experience made an impression on my life, stated Roundtree. After a brief moment serving as the security officer for the Regency Mall, he later applied for a job with the Augusta Police Department and was hired in 1993. For 18 years, Roundtree has served in a number of positions within Richmond County that prepared him for the extensive role of sheriff. He has served as a police officer, assisting with crime suppression, investigating property crimes and violent crimes. In 2000, he became a lead homicide investigator and remained one for a decade, which earned him the rank of investigator-sergeant. Roundtree was hired by the Richmond County Board of Education as a lieutenant in charge of operations for the school system s public safety department. As sheriff, Roundtree hopes to engage both law enforcement and the community as partners in fighting crime. I believe that the people of Richmond County and the officers need to be involved with one another and not just act as a crime fighting unit, but we want to combine prevention and education, said Roundtree. His vision for Richmond County is to transform the community and decrease the numbers of African-American men that are incarcerated. We have a large portion of black males that are committing violent offenses and not graduating from high school and we know that in itself is going to lead to more crime and more destructive behavior, Roundtree said. I want to be able to use the sheriff s office, not just as a tool to lock people up. I believe in education over incarceration. My biggest thing is that I have a legacy to leave, I want to change those numbers and I want to see more African-American males in college. I want to see that the incarceration rate goes down under my administration. Roundtree has an admiration for the youth of Richmond County and wants to see them strive to be global leaders in society. When I speak to young kids, I always tell them that they have to find that one thing that is inside of them, that motivates them. A person has to look inside themselves and find that one thing that works for them. He lives by the motto, anything worth having is worth fighting for! Roundtree will take office in January.
FAU doctoral student benefits from award, hopes to pay it forward by Faran Fagen, The Palm Beach Post Upcoming EVENTS December 14, 2012 Army ROTC 2012 Fall Commissioning Ceremony 2 p.m. Dr. Barbara A. Vaughan Fine Arts Recital Hall Phebian Davis, 94 SC State Alumna, Phebian Davis will graduate this spring from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) with her doctorate in accounting thanks in part to a $10,000 annual KPMG Minority Accounting Doctoral Scholarship she s received the past five years. When Phebian Davis graduated from Pahokee High School in 1990, she took great pride in being a first generation college student. In May, when she graduates with her doctorate in accounting from Florida Atlantic University, she hopes to inspire other students hoping to reach their dreams. I ve always enjoyed sharing knowledge, and ever since I was a little girl, I ve liked helping other people learn, the West Palm Beach resident said. Davis doctorate was mostly funded by the KPMG Foundation, an organization which seeks to bring about systemic change in business and society-specifically, an increase in the diversity of ideas. which awarded Davis the $10,000 KPMG Minority Accounting Doctoral Scholarship. Davis renewed the scholarship for her five years at FAU, at $10,000 a year. Since 1994, the KPMG Foundation has awarded over $10 million to 309 African-American, Hispanic-American, and Native American scholars pursuing doctorate degrees, as part of its ongoing commitment to increase the representation of minority students and professors in business schools. To date, 184 of those scholarship recipients have successfully completed their doctoral programs and are professors at universities throughout the country. In her 14 years in corporate America, Davis worked for a few years at KPMG, as well as Rinker (now CEMEX). She earned her bachelor s degree at South Carolina State and master s in accounting from Clemson University. During her education at FAU, Davis has developed an affinity for environmental and social accounting issues. She hopes to teach those aspects of accounting once she achieves an assistant professor position. December 15, 2012 2012 Fall Commencement Convocation 9 a.m. Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center Now through August 2013 Africa Revisited 9 a.m. 5p.m. (Weekdays) I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium If you have an event you would like to appear in This Week, please contact the office of University Relations and Marketing at (803) 533-3617. Thank you. is produced by: The Office of University Relations and Marketing P.O. Box 8124, 300 College Street, NE Ko W. G. Donma Administration Building Orangeburg, SC 29117 Ashley Elliott Assistant Director of Public Relations Carl A see Project Manager/WSSB General Manager Rolondo Davis Graphic Artist II Antia Dawkins Public Informations Specialist