George Starnes, a 1981 Lander University graduate and Trustee Emeritus of its Board of Trustees, has generously established an endowed professorship for the university's College of Business.
Starnes, a native of Batesburg now living in Columbia, is an award-winning wealth management advisor with G3 Wealth Advisors. He credits much of his professional success to his Lander instructors during his collegiate years.
"I'm very fortunate to be in a position to do this," Starnes said about his gift. "When I look back upon my Lander experience, a big part of it was the relationships I established with the professors and the interest they took in me and their other students. Instructors are often overlooked in the giving process, but they are an incredibly valuable resource. For me, they provided a great foundational knowledge of the way businesses work."
After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Business from Lander, Starnes received a master's degree in Financial Services from The American College. Throughout his career, he has earned numerous professional awards as a chartered financial consultant and accredited estate planner.
"George's gift is nothing short of transformational," said Mike Worley, vice president for University Advancement and executive director of The Lander Foundation. "The gift will be used to continue to strengthen Lander's College of Business through research and attracting the best business instructional professors."
Starnes has an extensive record for being a tireless supporter of his alma matter.
He was elected to the Lander Board of Trustees in 1992 and served for 24 years before retiring in 2016. From 2001-05, he served as chair and was the first Lander alumnus elected to serve in that position. He served as vice chair from 2014 until his retirement.
During his service to Lander, he:
In 1996, he was named Young Alumni of the Year, an accolade reserved for Lander graduates who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field, and who have strengthened their communities and Lander University with their time, talents and resources.
In 2006, he was presented with the Lander Alumni Association's Grace Iler Norman Award, presented annually to a Lander alumna or alumnus who has shown loyalty and significant achievement within the Alumni Association. It is considered the highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Association and is awarded annually only when a candidate meets the award criteria.
Starnes and his wife, Julie, are the parents of three children.