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News Briefs
Charleston High School Project to honor alumni, staff
Danielle Ripich, dean of the Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Health Professions, once drove by the vacant building on Rutledge Avenue that was once the High School of Charleston and thought, “This is a place of learning and it should remain an educational facility.”
Later that year, Ripich convinced MUSC to help her transform the brick remains of the high school into what will be part of the College of Health Professions’ new educational complex.
Not only was Ripich inspired to preserve what was left of the historic high school, but she also felt compelled to honor its legacy of excellence in education. The motto that is inscribed on the entrance of the building, “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,” is precisely what the college is accomplishing in South Carolina. The College of Health Professions educates allied health professionals such as physical and occupational therapists, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists and health administrators among several other important health professions that improve the quality of health care within our state and beyond.
CHS alumni support the renovation and want to give back to an institution that for many graduates paved their way to successful careers. A 13-member CHS alumni steering committee was formed and they proposed a tile walkway fundraising project that would both honor and memorialize all who were touched in some way by this historic school.
The project includes close to 350 granite tiles that will be installed in the complex’s front entrance. Each tile will include an inscription and can be purchased by or for alumni, former teachers, staff, students, coaches and friends of CHS. The tiles will border both sides of the entrance while the center of the walkway will display the CHS seal. The tiles are available for $250 each and the steering committee’s goal is to raise $87,000 through the project.
So far, the committee has raised more than $56,000 with only 130 tiles remaining to be sold. Major Gen. Carroll LeTellier, U.S. Army (retired), a 1945 graduate, says, “The graduates of Charleston High School and the citizens of Charleston owe a debt of gratitude to the Medical University of South Carolina for preserving this fine, 80-year-old structure.”
For information on supporting the High School of Charleston tile project or purchasing a tile, call Tommy Thornhill at 577-6722 ext. 112 or e-mail chpdev@musc.edu.
FEMA awards $2 million to Santee Cooper for storm repairs
Congressman Henry Brown announced that Santee Cooper, the state-owned electric and water utility, will receive more than $2 million from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair damages resulting from Hurricane Gaston.
The public assistance grant will reimburse Santee Cooper for the cost of repairs they made to the Pinopolis dams and the Jefferies Hydroelectric and Steam Plant, located in Berkeley County. This includes replacement of flooded motors, power transformer, transmitters and pumps as well as repair of roofing and fencing.
FEMA is paying 75% of the total $2.7 million cost of the repair project. Santee Cooper will assume responsibility for the other 25%. The FEMA public assistance program provides funds for disaster-related expense to state and local governments and certain nonprofit agencies that provide essential services.
Gov. Sanford names Kitzman director of insurance
Gov. Mark Sanford has named small business founder Eleanor Kitzman to fill the Cabinet-level position director of the Department of Insurance.
An 18-year veteran of the insurance industry, Kitzman is the founder and former president of Driver’s Choice Insurance Services, a South Carolina auto insurance business created in 1999 with five employees and one office that now employs 45 at five locations.
“What I’ve always looked for in this process are people who bring a business approach to government and who look out for the taxpayers’ bottom line,” Gov. Sanford says. “That’s particularly critical at an agency like DOI that’s so closely tied to our economic development efforts as a state. In addition to that, I think it’s critically important that folks in this process be willing to show intellectual curiosity and think outside of the box in questioning the status quo with respect to state government.”
Charleston magazine wins Gold Ozzie Award
Charleston magazine has won a Gold Ozzie Award—a national honor—in the feature design category, for the April 2004 article, “For the Love of Labyrinths,” designed by Melinda Smith Monk, the magazine’s art director, and photographed by Peter Frank Edwards.
Considered a top honor in the magazine publishing world, the Ozzie Awards have been recognizing industry leaders for 18 years. Awards are given to honor both excellence in design and editorial achievement based on circulation categories. Industry editors, publishers and consultants comprise the panel of judges selected to review the submitted material and choose the final winners in each category.
“This industry is truly a world of deadlines, so it’s nice to have a platform where creativity is acknowledged before you dive right back into the fast paced design schedule,” says Smith Monk. “We’re so pleased to receive this honor—it really validates the staff ’s collaborative efforts.”
The awards given in the feature design category must meet certain criteria—submitted work must be visually arresting and demonstrate art or design appropriateness, continuity, and show the use of technical details.
Ernst & Young seeks S.C. entrepreneurs
Ernst & Young, along with co-sponsors Bank of America, Marsh & Womble Carlyle, is seeking nominations for North or South Carolinas-based entrepreneurs for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2005, one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country.
Now in its 19th year, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards program recognizes outstanding entrepreneurial achievements. Past national winners and finalists have included Michael Dell of Dell Inc., Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, Robert Tucker of Shoe Show and Matthew Szulik of Red Hat Inc.
Carolinas’ award recipients are selected by a panel of independent judges comprised of area leaders from business, academic and civic organizations. Winners of the regional programs are automatically considered for the national event held annually in Palm Springs, Calif. The overall Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year national winner is then considered for the world event held in Monte Carlo.
To be eligible for consideration, nominees must be an owner/manager of a private or public company who is primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company (or organization) and an active member of top management. Completed nomination forms must be submitted by April 8, 2005.
For more information and nomination forms visit http://www.carolinaseoy.ey.com/.
Charleston voters support Morris Island preservation
A public opinion poll commissioned by the Civil War Preservation Trust reveals that Charleston County voters overwhelmingly support preservation of historic Morris Island. According to the poll, 71% of those surveyed advocate protection of the barrier island, located just outside Charleston Harbor.
In the telephone survey, Charleston County voters were asked several questions related to preservation of Morris Island. In every case, a majority expressed strong support for protection of the island. Nearly two-thirds of those questioned noted that they are personally interested in the Civil War and historical events that occurred in Charleston.
Sixty-nine percent stated they were aware of the historic importance of Morris Island.
Likewise, respondents expressed a very negative view toward plans to develop the Island. According to the survey, 77% of county voters oppose plans by a Greenville, S.C., developer to rezone the island to allow for construction of 20 luxury homes. Only 8% supported the development proposal.
In addition, 71% of those surveyed favored preservation of Morris Island so it can never be developed. Seventy-seven percent stated that Charleston County should vote to ban development on Morris Island. Only 13% expressed disapproval for such a ban.
Voters also recognized that Morris Island is a valuable environmental habitat as well as a battlefield. Eighty percent of those polled said that they support preservation of the island for its importance as a habitat for endangered wildlife.
The survey also confirmed that strong support exists for further Charleston County involvement in preservation. Eight out of 10 respondents stated that the county has a responsibility to protect Morris Island and other historic resources in the county. Seventy-seven percent of those polled revealed that they would be more likely to support public officials who advocate preservation of Morris Island.
“The poll results confirm what we already knew,” says Blake Hallman, spokesperson for the Morris Island Coalition, a coalition of nonprofit groups (including CWPT) that seeks to preserve the island battlefield. “Charlestonians want Morris Island preserved for future generations. They don’t want to look out on the horizon and see houses on land where brave men once fought and bled.”
The poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Research Inc. from Feb. 16-17, 2005.
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