Carolina Day

USC Aiken student leaders spent the day with state lawmakers as part of this annual one-day event.

Aiken, SC (01/31/2022) — An organization of student leaders at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken) called the Chancellor Ambassadors recently had an opportunity to spend the day with state lawmakers as part of Carolina Day at the Statehouse. Each January, representatives from each school within the University of South Carolina System come together in Columbia to advocate for university budget requests to the state.

The students, accompanied by Dr. Daniel Heimmermann, chancellor, presented to senators Tom Young and Shane Massey and representatives Bart Blackwell, Bill Clyburn, Bill Hixon, Melissa Oremus, and Bill Taylor and asked for recurring funds to go toward tuition mitigation and cyber and online programs. They asked for capital non-recurring funds to go toward Gregg-Graniteville Library renovations, virtual reality and media lab uplifts, a new HVAC system for the Etherredge Center, and additional deferred maintenance.

Students bolstered their requests by citing evidence of USC Aiken's positive impact on the local community and state. USC Aiken contributes an estimated $350.7 million annually to the South Carolina economy, most of which benefits Aiken and Aiken County. (Estimate from the Darla Moore School of Business, 2021.)

The Chancellor Ambassadors represent USC Aiken in the community and at university events in an effort to build and foster relationships between students, alumni, and the community. Ambassadors for the 2021-2022 academic year are Sam Boyd, Maya Finley, Andrew Gregory, Aisha Griffin, Anna Hawcroft, Ella James, Karli Overton, Alexis Rohrer, George Sharpe, Wilson Steinmeyer, Kippen Wallace, and Kimberly Zorn.

"Carolina Day is an annual favorite event for the ambassadors," said Meredith Hawcroft, co-advisor for the student organization and web coordinator for USC Aiken. "I'm incredibly proud of how well these 12 students represent the diverse, talented student body we have at the university. Carolina Day allows our representatives to hear firsthand how the state's support impacts our students. The ambassadors also get the opportunity to explain how our budget requests, if granted, would further enhance the educational opportunities the university provides to students from South Carolina and all over the world. We are all immensely grateful that our busy legislators took the time to speak with our students as part of this wonderful educational experience; we also appreciate their daily support of USC Aiken."

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