News Releases

Lander University assistant professor of education Cynthia Gardner's "Nature Tales" storytime and science exploration program recently debuted at a local daycare center. It went over well.

A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display at Lander University Sept. 8-11, to coincide with the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

A project that Lander University scientist Lisa Brodhacker has been working on for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has won a prize for its potential marketability outside of the space industry.

Lander University trustee George Starnes was on the search committee for a successor to Dr. Bill Moran, who retired as Lander president in 2000. "I knew the university would face unique challenges in the years ahead, and that the board had to select an individual who could meet those challenges."

Matthew Scruggs is a Lander University student and a S.C. Army National Guardsman. He is also among the estimated 20 percent of American veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan who struggle each day with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But Scruggs, who has served two tours in Iraq, is determined to do what he must to keep the condition under control while he concentrates on his responsibilities as a husband, a full-time student in Lander's William Preston Turner Department of Nursing, a caregiver and a soldier.

Five students were honored recently when Lander University's Department of Nursing held its annual Nursing Recognition Ceremony as a prelude to the university's December graduation.

Two Lander University English majors have teamed with their classmates and other students to collect books that will be sent to armed forces personnel through a volunteer organization called " Books for Vets." Seniors Paula Birch Billingsley of Fairfax and Lindsey Copeland of Greenville persuaded members of Lander's English Club to take on the book collection as a club project. Billingsley is president of the club and Copeland vice president.

The director of Lander University's Montessori teacher education program continues to pile up frequent flyer miles, traveling the world as part of the accreditation and evaluation process for Montessori programs in other countries. Associate professor of education Barbara Ervin was selected by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) to make site visits to colleges and universities in Taiwan twice, Shanghai, China, in 2009, and most recently Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September and Dublin, Ireland, in November.

Now that the holiday season is well under way, there is no shortage food and toy donation drives to help those who are less fortunate. This spirit of giving is very much alive on the Lander University campus. In one instance a Lander professor is rewarding students for their generosity. Pictured with students from her Legal Environmental Business class, Lander assistant professor of business Dr. Gail Moore, left, offered students five points of extra credit on an upcoming test in exchange for their donation to the Greenwood Food Bank. The class collected nearly 450 cans and other food items for donation.

Lander University students are playing leading roles in promoting and running the United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Visual arts major Ellen Herring of Aiken designed the program's logo, poster and brochure. Business students Adam Cartee of Anderson and Doug Corn of Piedmont will serve as preparers and site coordinators.