Francis Marion wins PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award

HILTON HEAD, S.C – Francis Marion University was presented with the inaugural Peach Belt Conference Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award at the conference’s recent annual meeting in Hilton Head.

The award is the culmination of a new season-long program undertaken by the Peach Belt to recognize one team in each of the league’s 12 championship sports, leading to the recognition of Francis Marion as the overall institution displaying the best sportsmanship.

The program presented an award following each championship season to the team in that sport that best exemplified the spirit of sportsmanship and generally conducted themselves with a high degree of integrity, character and class. Each team award was selected by other teams who competed in that sport. Points were awarded based on how each team finished in the voting.

Francis Marion won three team awards in the sports of men’s cross country, men’s soccer, and women’s tennis.

The PBC’s senior woman administrators, who oversee the program, then voted Francis Marion as the overall institution that displayed the best sportsmanship throughout the year.

“This award carries as much, if not more, satisfaction as does the PBC trophies won on the field in athletic competition,” said FMU director of athletics Murray Hartzler. “I am very proud of our student-athletes and our coaching staffs. In addition to athletic honors and classroom honors, this is another indication of how our players truly exemplify the term ‘student-athlete’.”

FMU was presented a banner that will hang during the 2009-10 season, and then will be passed on to the next institutional winner in June 2010. The school also received a crystal award for permanent display.

Academic Magnet High School teacher recognized by SC Academy of Science

COLUMBIA – A faculty member at North Charleston’s Academic Magnet High School today was named the South Carolina Academy of Science’s 2009 Teacher of the Year.

Katherine Lee Metzner-Roop, a teacher for 17 years, was honored at a joint meeting of the Academy of Science and the Junior Academy of Science in Columbia. April 12-18 is being celebrated as South Carolina Science and Mathematics Week.

Metzner-Roop was her school’s teacher of the year for 2003-04 and was named Junior Science Academy sponsor of the year for 2004-05. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in marine science from the College of Charleston/University of Charleston, with additional studies at The Citadel and North Carolina State University.

Metzner-Roop has been an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston for nine years. She teaches health and honors-level physical science and marine science courses at Academic Magnet High and is pursuing National Board teacher certification.

“She is a dedicated teacher who truly loves our school and works tirelessly on providing students with relevant and fun extracurricular activities such as camping trips, pep clubs and the Junior Academy of Science,” said science department chairman Murray Eicher. “She takes the initiative to deliver quality field trips for her classes and works to improve the quality of her teaching. All of her students go on to seek higher education.”

Metzner-Roop says she tries to “open people’s minds through science” and believes “there is nothing better than to introduce students to something they have never known, and to watch them as they experience the joy of discovery for the first time.”

She and her classes undertook a long-term research project to monitor water and soil quality around Noisette Creek, a marsh waterway that runs through the Academic Magnet campus. They presented their findings at the 2006 Coastal American Student Summit in Washington, DC, and spoke on protecting the environment before members of the President’s Cabinet, national lawmakers and world-renowned scientists.

Metzner-Roop receives a $500 cash award for teacher of the year honors, plus a plaque and an all-expense paid trip to the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting next February in San Diego.

Clemson student receives national honor society service award

CLEMSON — Margaret Hearon of Florence, a senior majoring in communication studies at Clemson University, received the 2009 Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Eldridge W. Roark Jr. Meritorious Service Award.

The Eldridge W. Roark Jr. Meritorious Service Award is given to four members nationally every year for recognition of varied and meritorious service to the ODK society.

Hearon joined ODK in the fall of 2007 and was elected president for the 2008-2009 academic year. She has been actively involved in restructuring and advancing Clemson’s ODK circle. ODK contributes to several campus-wide service events and leadership initiatives, including donations to Clemson’s Student Memorial Fund, the Unity Project, Relay for Life and the Women’s Leadership Conference. Hearon gained recognition for ODK as a prestigious honor society around campus.

“Margaret is a pleasure to work with. She championed ODK and its causes in a very special way. She will do very well in the future,” said Jim Morris, faculty adviser of Clemson’s ODK circle.

Hearon served as vice president of the Student Alumni Council and on the President's Cabinet for Student Government. She also has been involved in Delta Delta Delta sorority, Order of Omega, Mortar Board, Clemson Philanthropy and Service Committee and Clemson’s Day of Tradition Calendar Committee.

“I feel truly honored to have been chosen for this prestigious national award,” Hearon said. “I am grateful that my peers thought so highly of me to have nominated me for it. Having been chosen as one of the four recipients of this award is a wonderful feeling and I am proud to represent Clemson University and the success of our ODK circle.”

ODK is a nationally recognized leadership honor society. To become a member of ODK, students must rank in the top 35 percent of their academic class and must show leadership in scholarship, athletics, campus or community service, social and religious activities, campus government, journalism, speech, or creative and performing arts.

Lt. Governor André Bauer Receives Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging’s Regional Impact Award

Lt. Governor André Bauer is the recipient of the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging’s Regional Impact Award, which is awarded to a public policy maker who has made “an observable and measurable impact on the quality of life of older adults.”

Lt. Governor Bauer was cited for his leadership in establishing the Geriatrician Loan Forgiveness program, which has attracted 14 board certified physician specialists to South Carolina over the past three years. He was also noted for creating the Seniors Cube data warehouse to aid policymakers in decisions on the demographic issues presented by the Baby Boomers, and the new Senior Shield program to protect seniors from fraud.

Florence Attorney Wins Environmental Award

Benjamin T. "Ben" Zeigler has been named winner of the 2008 South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award. Mr. Zeigler is a shareholder of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., where he practices public finance law in the firm's Florence office.

In a ceremony Friday, March 27, Scott English, Governor Mark Sanford's Chief of Staff, announced the winner at the University of South Carolina's West ("Green") Quad in Columbia and recognized Zeigler for outstanding contributions toward the protection, conservation and improvement of South Carolina's natural resources.

In July 2008, Ben Zeigler completed two consecutive terms (2004-2008) as Chairman of the Board of the Pee Dee Land Trust. During his tenure on the Board, Ben built unprecedented community support for natural resource protection throughout the Pee Dee region. "Ben's civic work, particularly on behalf of the Pee Dee Land Trust, is an outstanding example of his dedication. The cumulative impact of Ben's many accomplishments is truly greater than the sum of its parts, and for that, all South Carolinians should be grateful," English said.

The Pee Dee Land Trust enables a land owner to voluntarily and permanently protect his or her land for its natural beauty and function, its agricultural productivity and/or its historical significance. The Trust can accept donations of land or donations of easements on privately owned land in order to protect it. The public benefits from protected land, even when public access is not granted, because of the value of scenic beauty, water and air quality, potential for local crop production, habitat for flora and fauna, and much more. Find out more about the Pee Dee Land Trust at: www.peedeelandtrust.org.

"As a direct result of Ben's visionary leadership, the amount of land protected by the Land Trust increased from a mere 13 acres in 2005 to more than 10,000 acres in 2008," English added.
A native of Florence, Mr. Zeigler earned his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard University (1997), a Master of Philosophy degree from Oxford University (1994), and graduated magna cum laude from The University of the South (Sewanee) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992. Mr. Zeigler also serves on the boards of Florence County Progress (Chairman, Relocation Task Force; Chairman, Membership Committee; Tourism Study Committee); Friends of Florence Stockade; Francis Marion University Foundation; Florence Center for the Arts; South Carolina Tourism Alliance; South Carolina Institute for Legal Investment (Steering Committee Chair); and moderator, Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network. He has also served on the Francis Marion Trail Commission (Chairman, 2005-2009), and the McLeod Health Community Board. A member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL), Mr. Zeigler is a member of the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Supreme Court Commission on Lawyer Conduct (2005-2009), and the South Carolina Eminent Domain Study Committee.

The South Carolina General Assembly established the S.C. Environmental Awareness Award, now in its 17th year, during the 1992 legislative session to recognize outstanding contributions made toward the protection, conservation and improvement of South Carolina's natural resources.

Each year the public is invited to submit nominations that are then reviewed by an awards committee, which includes representatives from the state's environmental and natural resource agencies. In judging nominees, the committee considers excellence in innovation, leadership and accomplishments that influence positive changes affecting the natural environment.

Members of the awards committee represent the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, S.C. Forestry Commission and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.

Previous winners include:
2007 - Dr. Richard Porcher Jr., professor emeritus at The Citadel
2006 - Rick Huffman, founder, South Carolina Native Plant Society
2003 - Burris Family, owners, Cypress Bay Plantation Tree Farm, Beaufort
2001 - James D. Elliott Jr., founder, South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey
1999 - Kenneth Strickland, environmentalist, Florence
1997 - Brad Wyche, president, Friends of the Reedy River, Greenville
1992 - Rudy Mancke, naturalist, S.C. Educational Television
DNR protects and manages South Carolina's natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state's natural resources and its people. Find out more about DNR at www.dnr.sc.gov.

Jacob Wins CPAC's Courage Under Fire Award

Paul Jacob, President of Citizens in Charge Foundation, was presented with the "Charlton Heston Courage Under Fire Award" from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Jacob was honored by CPAC for his commitment to citizen-led reform and his recent fight to uphold initiative rights in Oklahoma, where he had been indicted for helping citizens gather signatures for a state spending cap measure.

"I'm honored that CPAC would recognize our battle. This prosecution was intended to silence me and block citizen led reform through fear and intimidation," said Jacob.

"All Americans have the fundamental right to enact change in their government and this right must be protected at all cost. I accept this award for millions of average Americans who ensure the government is accountable to them," said Jacob.

Jacob ended his acceptance speech stating, "You can have my petition rights when you pry them from my cold, dead hands."

In 2005, Jacob assisted Oklahoma residents with a ballot initiative to cap state spending. In 2007, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmonson charged Jacob and two fellow activists (The Oklahoma Three) with a felony for allegedly hiring out-of-state petitioners, even through Oklahoma leadership of the initiative had consulted with state officials and followed their advise.

Facing a possibility of 10 years in prison, and against the advice of attorneys, Jacob did not remain silent. Instead, he spoke out strongly against the AG's "politically-motivated" prosecution, rallying Oklahomans and citizens nationwide against the increasing criminalization of the political process. Paul launched a website - FreePaulJacob.com - to chronicle the case, receiving wide-spread support.

Last month, the charges against Jacob and The Oklahoma Three were finally dropped. The law underlying their prosecution was found to be unconstitutional. Pulitzer-Prize wining columnist Paul Greenburg wrote, "The best way to assure freedom of expression, no matter where it may be threatened, would be to have an army of utterly determined Paul Jacob fighting for it."

Jacob was a featured speaker on a CPAC panel entitled, "Taking Action Through Citizen-Led Reform Panel: Conservative victories from citizen-led campaigns." His group, Citizens In Charge Foundation is hosting an event on Saturday, February 28th at 2:00 pm in Congressional A & B on citizen led reform entitled "Love Taking Charge?: The Common Sense Tool for Kickin' * One State At A Time."

In the years where the award is merited CPAC, the nation's largest gathering of conservative leaders and political activists, presents the "Charlton Heston Courage Under Fire Award" to an individual who has stood for principle even when doing so puts them at risk physically, politically or economically. Past recipients include Undersecretary John Bolton (2004), Chief M. G. Buthelezi, Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa (2001), Senator Jim DeMint and Senator Tom Coburn (2008).

Citizens In Charge Foundation is a non-profit citizen rights group dedicated to expanding and protecting the ballot initiative and referendum process. We believe good government stats with the voter. www.CitizensInCharge.org.

Strom Thurmond Awards

U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins’ Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee hosted the annual Strom Thurmond Awards for Excellence in Law Enforcement Luncheon today at Fort Jackson Officers' Club, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint was the keynote speaker at the awards banquet.

The following South Carolina law enforcement officers received the 2008 awards:
City - Chief A. Keith Morton, Fountain Inn Police Department
County - Herman W. Young, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office
Federal - Senior Resident Agent Vincent R. Flamini, Federal Bureau of Investigation
State - Senior Agent Jeffrey L. Kindley, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)

The Strom Thurmond Awards for Excellence in Law Enforcement were established by Senator Strom Thurmond in 1983 to recognize law enforcement officers whose performances demonstrate the highest ideals of excellence in professional law enforcement. An annual award is given in each of four categories: (1) City Officer; (2) County Officer; (3) State Officer; and (4) Federal Officer. An awards committee composed of representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Strom Thurmond Foundation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, along with a police chief and sheriff selected the recipients from nominations received from across the state.

In presenting the awards, United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated, "It is my great privilege to recognize these four outstanding officers. Each of these gentlemen exemplify the best in law enforcement in South Carolina: integrity, character, hard work, and sacrifice. They have represented their respective agencies and law enforcement in general with honor and distinction. These officers have not only distinguished themselves within the law enforcement circles in which they work, but also in the communities in which they live. It is this genuine commitment to serving fellow South Carolinians that Senator Thurmond envisioned when he created these awards. I am extremely proud to be able to recognize their very valuable contributions to the safety and quality of life for all South Carolinians."

S.C. Law Enforcement Officers to be Honored

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint is Keynote Speaker

COLUMBIA, SC – U.S. Attorney W. Walt Wilkins’ Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association will host a luncheon on Friday, Jan. 16, for the presentation of the 2008 Strom Thurmond Awards for Excellence in Law Enforcement. Each year awards are presented to a city, county, state, and federal law enforcement officer who have demonstrated the highest ideals of excellence in professional law enforcement. U.S. Senator Jim DeMint will deliver the keynote address to a group of about 150 law enforcement officers throughout the state and will participate in the presentation of the awards.

The 2008 awards luncheon will be held at the Fort Jackson Officers’ Club at Fort Jackson. Lunch will begin at 12:00 Noon and the awards program will be begin at approximately 12:20 p.m.

The names of award recipients will be announced during the luncheon.

Liberty Fellowship Announces Liberty Prize Winner

Liberty Fellowship, the statewide leadership program that seeks to inspire values-based leadership among young South Carolina leaders, today announced that Fred F. “Trip” DuBard, III, a member of Liberty Fellowship’s inaugural Class of 2006, has won the first annual Liberty Prize, $50,000 is to be used to sustain and expand the winning Fellow’s community leadership project.

DuBard initiated and led local efforts to create the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation (ECCF) to fill local needs in Chesterfield, Marlboro, Marion, Dillon, Florence, Darlington and Williamsburg counties, South Carolina’s largest area previously not served by a community foundation. Ultimately ECCF will be a collection of charitable gifts and bequests that help Pee Dee citizens help each other by offering donors enormous flexibility and encouraging philanthropy.

DuBard commented, “We don’t need a fish, or be taught how to fish. We need help building a fishing pole so that we can help ourselves. This vote validates the importance of the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation not just to our area, but to the state as a whole. We’ll use the prize to make it easier for neighbors to help neighbors in the Pee Dee.”

Liberty Fellowship is a partnership of Hayne Hipp, The Aspen Institute and Wofford College. For more information, please visit www.libertyfellowshipsc.org.

Nominations for the fifth class, Class of 2010, will be taken until March 31st.