April Thanks & Recognition

April Thanks & Recognition

Thanking the Legislature: (left to right) student Chad Burnett, Associate Director of Student Financial Services Martha Lewis, Financial Aid Counselor Kelly Werner, student Lance Kaminer, South Carolina Speaker of the House Jay Lucas.

April is a month for expressing thanks and recognition.

Columbia International University students expressed thanks to South Carolina state legislators for their support of the state’s Tuition Grant program, while a CIU professor has been recognized as an excellent teacher. Both April events were orchestrated by South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU), of which CIU is a member.

Over 100 students and staff members from 17 SCICU member colleges and universities visited the South Carolina Statehouse to personally thank the members of the General Assembly for their support of the Tuition Grant program. Prior to meeting with their hometown representatives and senators, the students attended a breakfast and heard from South Carolina Speaker of the House Jay Lucas who acknowledged the contributions that independent colleges and universities make in South Carolina.

Meanwhile, CIU Youth Ministry professor Dr. David Olshine received the annual Excellence in Teaching Award from SCICU. The honor is given to a member of the faculty from each of the 20 SCICU member institutions according to rigorous guidelines. Recipients are recognized at a special dinner and presented a $3,000 professional development grant.

CIU Provost Dr. James Lanpher says Olshine models CIU’s educational triad of academic excellence, spiritual growth, and ministry involvement.

“I appreciate Dr. Olshine’s deep commitment to his students and his willingness to engage with them both academically and personally,” Lanpher said. “I also appreciate his contributions to his field and his desire to serve even beyond CIU. He truly exemplifies CIU’s ‘heads, hands, and hearts’ educational philosophy.”