Spring / Summer 2017 From the PRESIDENT COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Gov. Henry McMaster, Strategy for Student Success Ex Officio member D. Wyatt Henderson ’98, Chairman Coastal Carolina University is on the rise. The energy is William S. Biggs, Vice Chairman Charles E. Lewis, Sec./Treas. palpable. Intense work in every area of campus is underway Samuel H. Frink with a strong emphasis on one overarching theme—ensuring Natasha M. Hanna ’94 Carlos C. Johnson that students experience a learning environment at CCU that Marion B. Lee prepares them for global citizenship. William L. Lyles Jr. Daniel W. R. Moore Sr. Coastal’s learning environment encompasses the myriad George E. Mullen experiences our students gain inside and outside classroom Oran P. Smith walls. Students engage by helping a small-business owner in the Eugene C. Spivey ’91 H. Delan Stevens ’79 community; they get their hands dirty transplanting endangered Samuel J. Swad ’87 plants; they spend time working with the homeless population; they reach far beyond what Robert G. Templeton they imagined their university experience could be. William E. Turner III ’97 PRESIDENT In order to create the best possible experience for our students, CCU’s strategic plan has David A. DeCenzo been updated, concentrating on six key areas: academic and instructional quality; student PROVOST and EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT excellence; an engaged staff and faculty; accessibility inclusion and diversity; the CCU story J. Ralph Byington (communication); and financial stability and infrastructure. VICE PRESIDENT for UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION An 18-member steering committee was formed nearly two years ago, and the planning William M. Plate process involved 69 task force members, 284 alumni, 389 students, 22 focus groups of faculty and staff, and 15 administrators. The Student Government Association, the Staff Advisory Committee and the Faculty Senate approved the plan prior to the Board of Trustees’ final authorization in August 2016. Each strategic area identifies measurable goals and actions with timelines. In the area EDITOR Doug Bell of staff and faculty engagement, we are well on our way. We encourage faculty and staff CREATIVE DIRECTOR to share their knowledge with appropriate community groups. This helps others gain a Rob Wyeth better understanding of the broad expertise our people bring to the area and, ultimately, it PRODUCTION MANAGER enhances the community that has been so good to us. Jeanne Caldwell Diversity and inclusion are major focal points as we move forward, including adding DESIGNERS the position of a chief diversity and inclusion officer. This campus leader will work with Jonathan Ady Daniel Mableton ’14 students of all different backgrounds and perspectives to help ensure that CCU has a Regis Minerd learning environment that is characterized by understanding and respect. PHOTOGRAPHY This strategic plan also addresses communication—telling the CCU story. We have great Judy Johns ’05 stories to relate about the achievements of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. I believe WEB that positive and effective communication creates an atmosphere in which people feel free Brentley Broughton ’09 to speak their minds. CONTRIBUTORS Mona Prufer CCU’s 2016-2021 strategic plan is a living, breathing document and does not sit on a Jerry Rashid shelf. It guides every plan we make, every policy we create and every motion we take to our Brent Reser Caroline P. Smith ’08 Board of Trustees. We will study the benchmarks we do not reach, and we will celebrate Monica Trepiccione the accomplishments we achieve. I am confident that this strategic plan will promote Coastal Carolina’s core institutional Change of address notices should be sent values: tradition, integrity and excellence. with the mailing panel on this magazine to: David A. DeCenzo, President Office of University Communication Coastal Carolina University P.O. Box 261954 Conway, SC 29528-6054 contents 10 18 40 48 54 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 10 Growing Up Coastal 2 Of Note As CCU grows and matures, more and more people are identifying themselves as citizens of 8 Published Teal Nation—and they’re starting young. 44 Of Interest 18 Self-Motivated 46 CCU Social Thanks to the experiential learning they acquired 48 Teal & Bronze at CCU, these five young alumni are living their dreams and making them pay. 50 Alumni 54 Events 40 Family Matters Parents and families of students are lending 56 Giving their experience and expertise to add a new perspective to the University experience. On the cover: Growing Up Coastal (see Page 10) Copyright 2017 • Coastal Carolina University Sophia Johns, daughter of Chuck ’04 and Judy Johns ’05 Coastal Carolina University Magazine • 1 Of NOTE Teaching Fellows program develops teacher-leaders for S.C. A group of 36 education majors at minor from Myrtle Beach. “I am able to a competitive interview process CCU is in training to become teacher- understand the struggles that a teacher involving the S.C. Center for Educator leaders through the state Teaching must face.” Recruitment, Retention & Advancement Fellows program. The prestigious The overall goal of the program is to (CERRA). The prospective fellows give program recruits talented students into develop teachers who will have the skills their top three choices of the South the teaching profession and helps them and the background to become leaders in Carolina colleges and universities they develop leadership qualities. their communities, according to Darden. prefer to attend. For the 2016-2017 “Teaching Fellows at CCU are held Fellows are required to teach in South academic year, 868 students applied to a very high standard,” says Amanda Carolina public schools upon graduation for 200 openings. CCU is allowed to Darden, director of the program in for each year they receive the fellowship. accept up to 25 students a year. Eleven CCU’s Spadoni College of Education. Homewood Elementary School has been higher education institutions in the The college began participating in the an important partner in the success of state participate in the Teaching Fellows program two years ago and now has 21 the program, as well as Carolina Forest program. freshmen and 15 sophomores enrolled. Elementary. The program will expand to According to Darden, about half of the The fellows receive a $6,000 annual other local schools in the future. CCU fellows are from Horry County, scholarship ($24,000 over four years) The professional development and three fellows from other S.C. funded by the South Carolina General component of the program includes universities have transferred into CCU’s Assembly. Each fellow is paired with seminars, conferences and “Hill Day,” program. Upon graduating, teaching a public school teacher for a mentor a senior-year visit to the state capitol fellows are highly sought after by state relationship that entails spending two to meet with education leaders. An school districts. hours every week in the mentor’s international opportunity is being “Teaching Fellows get real experience classroom and participating in a series of planned as part of the fellows’ junior in the classroom so much earlier than professional development seminars. year experience. traditional education majors do,” “By working with my mentor-teacher “Through the seminars and field says Bailey Lewis, a sophomore early at Homewood Elementary, Sandy experiences, I have been given the tools education major from Rock Hill, S.C. Norris, I am able to see what it is like to be an effective educator in the future,” “The program is definitely preparing me in the classroom from the teacher’s says Zakira Felder, a sophomore special for a future in education by giving me point of view,” says Alex Del Castillo, a education major from Gresham, S.C. plenty of opportunities I would not have junior math major and communication The fellows are recruited during otherwise had, which will help me be the their senior year of high school through best teacher possible.” Teaching Fellows receive a $6,000 annual scholarship ($24,000 over $ four years), funded by the South 6K Carolina General Assembly. 2 • Coastal Carolina University Magazine CCU students help HUD count local homeless population Forty-two Coastal Carolina University students volunteered to will provide. In the past, the homeless have been vastly help count the local homeless population for the U.S. Department undercounted. Hopefully, with all the student volunteers, we of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Point-In-Time will have an accurate count this year.” (PIT) count, taken every year in Public awareness and volunteer January, helps to identify needs and participation are crucial for a allocate federal resources. successful outcome. Volunteers The students, mostly from are essential to locate the homeless CCU’s social inequality and race who have not been counted by and ethnicity classes, visited 12 outreach workers and homeless different shelters and places where organizations. the homeless gather, according to ECHO is the regional nonprofit Stephanie Southworth, lecturer program that assists the homeless of sociology at CCU, who is also with resources such as housing. (left to right) CCU students Regina Dipietro and Michael Scargill HUD’s county coordinator for with Kyle Jenkins of ECHO. It covers 12 counties: Horry, Horry County. Sumter, Florence, Georgetown, “Every county in the state conducts a PIT count,” said Chesterfield, Marlboro, Darlington, Clarendon, Dillon, Lee, Southworth. “In addition to participating in the count, the Williamsburg and Marion. students also spent time volunteering in the shelters this semester. CCU’s Swain Scholars are also working on a homelessness The more homeless we count, the more resources HUD project with the Athenaeum Press. CCU committee to evaluate safety of S.C. 544 near campus Coastal Carolina University President University administration began conversations four years David A. DeCenzo has formed an ad-hoc ago with county and state officials to address concerns committee to research opportunities for regarding student pedestrian traffic across S.C.