Spring 2008
His hometown, once prosperous from peach orchards and textile mills, now fights to recruit white collar jobs that will entice generations of young leaders to stay in the community. He believes that education is the answer to recruiting these jobs to the area, bringing with them a higher per capita income and increase in the quality of living.
It is this belief that led George Dean Johnson, Jr. to explore ways in which he could help the Spartanburg community, now and for generations to come, to prosper as others from his hometown once prospered. The University of South Carolina Upstate announced in December the naming of the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics and the promise of a new downtown location that will assist in economic development, aid in pre-start-up and incubation support of small business, and introduce thousands of business majors over the years to the opportunities for investment in the City.
Imagine being 14-years old with college credits already under your belt! For a select group of Spartanburg County ninth graders, this scenario is a reality, thanks to a $2.6 million U.S. Department of Education funded grant program called the Scholars Academy.
The University of South Carolina Upstate, in coordination with educators in seven Spartanburg County school districts, implemented this competitive program which allows academically advanced ninth graders to take courses on the college campus during their high school years, starting in the 2007-2008 school year. By the time they graduate from high school, they will have 45 – 60 college credit hours to their name, giving them a jump on their college careers and saving their parents thousands in college tuition.
It is one thing to sit in a classroom, or even in a laboratory, and learn the ins and outs of one’s desired profession. It is quite another to put that knowledge into action. But that is just what a partnership between Mobile Meals of Spartanburg and the Mary Black School of Nursing at USC Upstate is doing for today’s nursing students.
Eight senior nursing students work with nurses from Mobile Meals nursing ministry in conducting in-home visits to meal recipients. During these visits the students, who work in pairs, initially conduct a health history and family assessment to identify the healthcare needs of each client.