"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Basketball Camp
More than 70 boys and girls age 6-16 learned basketball fundamentals during a camp conducted by Coach Charles Wimphrie and members of the SWU Men's Basketball Team June 24-28 at the Central-Clemson Recreation Center.
From the President - SWU Central Campus Updates: Summer Progress
While many are away, the Central campus is moving forward with some small but impactful projects that we believe will increase attraction to SWU, enhance momentum and continue to positively impact our traditional enrollment. Most items are being completely or substantially paid for with outside donations! We are still waiting on a gift possibility for a “touring†golf cart from E-Z-GO for the admissions team, as well as a community grant to help us finish some final items at the driving range, but the putting green (donated) and picnic shelter (a gift from the Jennings estate) is complete now and being used every day! We also have secured a partial pledge for building a small golf shelter that will allow for storage of the ball cart and equipment along with team storage rooms and a bathroom at the site. We will continue to work on that project, along with the Nicholson Mitchell campaign, and continue to aggressively seek funding for a science building solution, funding for a school of business facility, and other important projects to catapult SWU forward. We look forward to Dr. Lisa McWherter joining us in Development to double our efforts at securing important funding for the future.
But there is more! From resources Dr. Joe Brockinton found, we are making great progress in the student activity zone area (converting the old tennis courts to sand volleyball, basketball and one tennis court); we will be adding a fire pit and a new picnic shelter there. In the dining commons, with the support of our Pioneer food service partners, we have replaced the carpet and added a few areas of wood look vinyl flooring, and new tables and chairs are on the way for our August start! It will be a beautiful change for a wonderful space. We are blessed.
In Bryant Lodge, a gift has allowed us to add carpet, and what a difference this has made to the look and sound absorption of the space.
Finally, while the Spring rains have caused delays, the track/soccer field project is making progress every day. We have no doubt it will be ready for fall, but an exact date is TBD. Funds continue to come in for this project, and we are so excited with the outpouring of community support for this community friendly facility. All in all, progress is being made, with every bit of it focused on enrollment. With enrollment, our financials will improve, and that will be the tide that raises all ships. We thank God for even these small but important projects to move the campus forward.
Houke involved at professional meetings
During the 2013 American Accounting Association Regional Meeting in Nashville, Dr. Charlotte Houke, SWU business professor, presented a project in the education track, “Designing a personal balanced scorecard: A student based comprehensive learning project.†She also was on the panel of a roundtable discussion titled “David and Goliath or ‘Small versus Large Schools’ Preparing Accounting Graduates.†Spring was a busy time for Houke, who also served as session chair at the 2013 South Carolina Upstate Research Symposium at Milliken in Spartanburg April 19.
Personnel Announcements
A couple of new folks have been added to the SWU family of employees:
Laura Timmerman joins the school of business as assistant professor of economics on July 1. Prof. Timmerman is expected to complete her Ph.D. in economics at Clemson next year. She holds an MA in economics from Clemson University and a BS in mathematics/economics from Charleston Southern University. Her most recent teaching experience has been at Clemson University.
Sandy Preusz returns to her alma mater (SWU 1984) in a part-time position as student accounts representative; her position starts on July 15. Sandy received her BA in business administration at SWU and had been working for several years as vice president for operations at CBS Distribution in Greer. Sandy’s husband, Mike Preusz, is SWU’s IT director.
Welcome back!
Dr. Brad Fipps (Colonel, U.S. Army) returns this fall as a full-time religion faculty member after five years of being mobilized in the U.S. Army Reserves. Most recently, Fipps has been stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. as a chaplain working at Forces Command, the largest US Army command. His primary duties have been to manage Forces Command’s Strong Bonds program to help soldiers and their families build and maintain strong family structures. He has also been actively involved with the Department of the Army’s suicide prevention efforts and programs, risk mitigation and reduction, resiliency, comprehensive soldier and family fitness, deployment cycle support and other soldier and family well-being programs. He also provided pastoral care and counseling to soldiers, families and Department of the Army civilians, as well as mentoring several chaplains and chaplain assistants during his mobilization. Prior to being called up to active duty in 2008, Dr. Fipps had been teaching full-time at SWU since 1991. Welcome back, Brad, and thank you for your service!
Independence Day Holiday
Enjoy a safe and fun-filled (or relaxing) extended Independence Day break as SWU’s campus and regional centers close Thursday and Friday, July 4 and 5.
Save The Date - October 26, 2013
The Second Annual Run2Fall 5k Race is an event for the whole family. Proceeds will go towards the SWU Staff Council, which carries out service projects for SWU students. Details | Register online
Congratulations!
Elsa Bustamante, the Hispanic services manager at Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, received the Edgar J. Helms Awardfor Staff at a Goodwill Industries International annual delegate assembly meeting. Bustamante is a 2009 MSM graduate of SWU’s North Augusta education center. Read more>>
Clayton traveling to Honduras
Dr. Larry Clayton will travel to Honduras this month for a week on a Baptist Medical and Dental Mission Trip. While there, he will preach God’s message in Spanish. Clayton is a member of SWU’s board of visitors and a faculty member at the University of Alabama. Be sure to include him and the team in your prayers.
