SASFAA Nine News: SCASFAA--A Year in Review

Serving students for 50 years with focused passion and fearless vision.

Greetings from the Palmetto State. We had a wonderful time celebrating our 50^th anniversary this year. We started out the year with a Transitional Board Meeting in Newberry last July. After a time of transitioning activities between the 2014-15 and 2015-16 boards, we resurrected a mini version of the SCASFAA Olympics as a team-building experience.

Some highlights of our year:

· President Elizabeth Milam attended and presented at KASFAA as part of the SASFAA State Presidents’ Exchange.

· Our first Financial Awareness Symposium was held at Columbia College on December 14, 2015.

· The New Aid Officers’ Workshop was conducted at Newberry College on January 21, 2016.

· We submitted the SCASFAA history and assorted memorabilia for the NASFAA 50^th Anniversary time capsule.

· NASFAA accepted two of our Student Success Stories for inclusion in the National Conference Student Success Luncheon (Dr. Tabatha McAllister, University of South Carolina’s Palmetto College) and NASFAA’s Student Success publication (Samantha Kite, Coastal Carolina University).

· Approximately 75 SCASFAA members attended the SASFAA Annual Conference in Greensboro, NC.

· College Goal SC was held at numerous locations across the state on February 20-27, 2016.

· President-Elect Kevin Perry attended the NASFAA Leadership & Legislative Expo and participated in Hill visits in Washington, DC.

· The Intermediate Aid Officers Workshop, featuring a NASFAA U Credential in Verification, was held at Southern Wesleyan University on March 16, 2016.

· The Leadership Symposium, focusing on customer service and self-care practices, was held as a pre-conference event on April 3, 2016.

· Legislative Issues Chair Joey Derrick and committee member Brandon Lindsay attended the SASFAA Legislative Symposium and participated in Hill visits in Washington, SC.

The year culminated with our Annual Conference and 50^th Anniversary Celebration at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach on April 3-6, 2016. SASFAA President Amy Berrier and MASFAA President Nicole Patrick were our special guests. We were honored to have 25 of our 49 presidents in attendance. We brought back many fun activities from the past such as the SCASFAA Olympics (nothing creates a bond like being blindfolded and tied to a colleague) and the Miss SCASFAA Pageant. Conference Chair Katie Harrison and her committee did a remarkable job putting together a conference with meaningful sessions, engaging activities, and historical remembrances. The conference touched the hearts of retired lifetime members and past-presidents, energized current members, and inspired those new to the profession.

The following retirees were recognized at the annual conference:

Josephine Brown Trident Technical College 15 years

Candace Hall Medical University of South Carolina 17 years

Sherry Hall Aiken Technical College 33 years

The following members were presented Quarter Century pins, recognizing 25 years of service:

Angela Fowler Converse College

Hank Fuller The Citadel

Bobby Holcombe University of South Carolina-Union

Michael Jordan North Greenville University

Terri Williams University of South Carolina-Upstate

Sandra Gibson Morris College (37 years of service)

The following members were recipients of SCASFAA awards:

Emerging Leader Award Kyle Phillips Clemson University

SCASFAA Achiever Award Katie Harrison SC Tuition Grants Commission

Fearless Nine Service to SCASFAA Award Tabatha McAllister University of South Carolina’s Palmetto College

Our conference’s charity fundraising was held in memory of DePayne Middleton Doctor, one of the “Emmanuel Nine,” victims of the tragic shooting in Charleston last June. DePayne was a graduate and employee of three SCASFAA-affiliated institutions, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College and her Master’s from Southern Wesleyan University. She worked at the Medical University of South Carolina and most recently at Southern Wesleyan University. SCASFAA was proud to raise $2,500 for a scholarship for DePayne’s daughter who is attending Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC.

Below are a few photos from our year so far.

Transitional Board Meeting, July 2015 – (back) Nikki Miller, Cindy Peachey, Leah Suttles, April Baur, Carolyn Sparks, Jennifer Williams, Kevin Delp, Kisha Dawkins, Deborah Williams, Melanie Gillespie, DJ Wetzel, Jenny Beakley Hammett, Donna Quick, Casey Wallen, (front) Kevin Perry, Elizabeth Milam, Ken Cole, Katie Harrison

SCASFAA celebrated our 50^th Anniversary at the Annual Conference in April 2016

25 out of 49 SCASFAA presidents attended the 50^th Anniversary Celebration – (back) Ken Player 1991-92, Ken Cole 2014-15, Bob Godfrey 1992-93, Allison Sullivan 2011-12, Ellen Green 1990-91, Nancy Garmroth 2005-06, Betty Whalen 2004-05, Earl Mayo 1999-2000, Keith Reeves 2003-04, Jeff Holliday 2010-11, (front) Jennifer (Jones-Gaddy) Bomar 1983-84, Jackie Bell 1996-97, Fred Hardin 1995-96, Sarah Dowd 2012-13, Mike Fox 2000-01, Elizabeth Milam 2015-16, Katie Harrison 2013-14, Tabatha McAllister 2007-08, Cheryl Hughes 1998-99, Hank Fuller 2009-10. Present but not pictured: Marvin Carmichael 1881-82, Jeff Dennis 2008-09, Anita Kaminer Elliott 2002-03, Sylvia Hudson 1974-75, Kim Jenerette 2006-07