Limestone College Presents Alumni Awards During Alumni Weekend

Related Media

Limestone Alumni Award winners (left to right): Bill Crotzer, Justin Addington, Faye Edwards, Brenda Thrift, Jacquelyn Satterfield, Tommie Storms, Don Pullum

GAFFNEY, SC (05/16/2012)(readMedia)-- Limestone College honored seven individuals with alumni awards during its alumni weekend April 19-22, 2012.

Faye Carter Edwards; Alumna of the Year

Faye Carter Edwards of Gaffney (29340) is the 2012 Limestone Alumna of the Year. She is a member of the Limestone Class of 1951 who graduated with cum laude honors. Selected by the Limestone College Alumni Association's Board of Directors, the Alumna of the Year Award is presented to a Limestone graduate who has provided distinguished and meritorious service to the College.

Faye worked as a library assistant from 1974-1986. In 1989, she was elected to serve the College on its Board of Trustees. During her tenure, she served on the Presidential Search Committee, Co-Chaired the Limestone Fund drive, and Co-Chaired the Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign. She later helped form the Beautification and Preservation Committee and served as its first chair. In 2000, she was elected Life Trustee for Limestone.

In her community, Faye has been a tireless activist. For the American Association of University Women, she is a member and past president and spearheaded an initiative to encourage Cherokee County to pass an ordinance publicizing vacancies and expired terms on county boards and commissions.

She has served on the Boards of the American Red Cross and the Will Lou Gray Opportunity School. She has also been elected to the South Carolina Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council, the Cherokee County Historical and Preservation Society. Faye has also been a member of the Tuesday Women's Club.

Faye and her husband Preston have three children.

Bill Crotzer; Honorary Alumnus Introduction

Gaffney (29340) resident Bill Crotzer was named an Honorary Alumnus. A graduate of Gaffney High School and Wofford College, Bill enjoyed a 35-year banking career that included service as Vice President at Wachovia Bank in Blacksburg. Today, Bill is enjoying retirement with his lovely wife, Ann.

Having served his country proudly in the United States Navy, Bill has also made a lasting and impactful record of community service in Cherokee County. He has served as President of the Cherokee County Heart Association and of Blacksburg Rotary. He has also been actively assisted his fellow citizens through involvement with Meals-on-Wheels, the Cherokee County Library, the Boys Club, Red Cross, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, the Boy Scouts, and Gaffney Toastmasters.

For Buford Street United Methodist, Bill provided guidance as a Sunday School Teacher, a member of the Finance Committee, a Trustee, a member of the Pastor's Parish and of the Men's Club.

Bill's commitment to Limestone is exemplified through that same selfless attitude and strong-minded resolve to do his part in making a positive difference in the lives of our current students and alumni. He is a faithful supporter of the Limestone Fund and the Today's Needs...Tomorrow's Dreams capital campaign. He has also provided insightful leadership by volunteering to assist the Cherokee County Chapter of the Limestone Alumni Association, homecoming and alumni weekends, and annual fundraising campaigns such as Scholars, Dollars, and Chocolates.

Bill and Ann continue to reside in Gaffney, and have five children.

Brenda McGinnis Thrift; Service to Education

Brenda McGinnis Thrift of Gaffney (29341), a member of Limestone's Class of 1980, received the college's Service to Education Award for 2012. The award is presented annually to a graduate who has truly made a difference in the lives of others through education.

A National Board Certified Teacher, Brenda describes herself as a professional learner and has earned multiple degrees including a bachelor's and two master's degrees (one in elementary education from Converse College another in psychology from the University of Phoenix).

While she taught honors courses in English and Language Arts for 7th graders for 29 years, she serves today as Instructional and Literacy Coach for Chesnee Middle School.

She has formed study groups for her fellow teachers to focus on issues relevant to her school and Spartanburg School District 2, has coordinated and implemented a comprehensive school-wide literacy program, and coaches other teachers at Chesnee Middle in all curriculum areas to enhance students' literacy skills and identifies staff development needs. She works with teachers individually and on collaborative teams to assess student data and determine how to help all the students reach their highest potential.

As evidence of the dedication she shows to her craft, she was named the 2005-2006 Teacher of The Years at Chesnee Middle School, was named to the 2007 Who's Who of American Women listing and has been a nominee for multiple years for Who's Who Among America's Teachers.

A resident of Gaffney, Brenda and her husband Jeffrey have two children.

Jacquelyn Brown Satterfield; Service to Church

Spartanburg (29302) resident Jacquelyn Brown Satterfield was presented with Limestone College's Service to Church Award. The award is presented annually to a recipient who exemplifies living a life of mission and purpose for the benefit of others.

Jacquelyn graduated from Limestone in 1960 with a degree in Music Education. For 15 years, she served as Minister of Music for Morningside Baptist Church in Spartanburg. These duties included directing the adult choir, the children's choir and hand bells group. She even provided her leadership skills to Morningside by serving as a church Deacon.

After earning her bachelor of arts in music education from Limestone, Jacquelyn taught music to elementary school students in Spartanburg District 7 schools for 32 years. She has also volunteered her talents for the Spartanburg Philharmonic and the Spartanburg Music Club.

Tommie Lynn Storms; Service to Community

Pine Lake (30072), GA resident Tommie Lynn Storms was presented with Limestone College's Service to Community Award. The award is presented annually to an alumnus/a who exhibits the ideals of civic responsibilities.

A 1981 graduate of Limestone College, Storms is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta-based American Association of Adapted Sports Programs. AAASP is the country's first and only not-for-profit organization focused solely on mainstream inclusion of athletes with physical disabilities in grade school.

When the Paralympic Games were held in Atlanta in 1996, she served on the Volunteer Placement Steering Committee, an organization charged with the training and placement of over seventy-thousand volunteers. She lent her talents and skills to the Initiative Two-Thousand Organizing Committee which developed and implemented a torch run across America to commemorate the tenth year anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Storms has been a member of the Grant Advisory Board for the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation and chaired a committee to develop housing for seniors and low-income residents of the Pine Lake community in DeKalb, Georgia.

Storms is also serving her alma mater as a member of the President's Advisory Committee.

Don Pullum; Service to College

North Augusta (29841), SC resident Don Pullum was presented with Limestone College's Service to College Award. The award is presented annually to an alumnus/a who shows a genuine love for Limestone College.

Don was recognized for his use of social media to unite Limestone alumni through the Legion of Saints Facebook page. With nearly 95 members of this electronic coterie, he keeps the Saints Nation up to date on what's happening among Limestone alumni and with the College today. He also makes frequent road trips to visit with Limestone alumni throughout the region.

Don likes to say that the "Limestone Spirit" has influenced his soul. "A Saint," he says, "is always ready with compassion, honesty and a can-do spirit." And he has taken that Limestone Spirit to his community. He is a regular participant in walks for the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association. As a corporate watch buyer for Windsor Fine Jewelers in Augusta, Georgia, he has provided numerous gifts and services to charities in the Augusta area.

Justin Lowery Addington; Young Alumnus of the Year

Savannah (31406), Ga. resident Justin Lowery Addington was presented with Limestone College's Young Alumnus of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to a recipient selected by the college's Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Justin graduated from Limestone in 2007 with cum laude honors and a bachelor of arts in music education. As a student, he placed first in the musical theatre component of the National Association of Teachers Singing competition, was named to the "Who's Who Among America's College Students" listing, and was a recipient of numerous music and theatre awards and scholarships.

Justin also lent his talents to the Little Theatre stage by portraying many characters on stage and also working as Music Director and Pianist in the orchestra pit.

Before moving to Savannah, Justin served as director of Choral Activities for Cowpens Middle School and Music Director and Organist for Trinity United Methodist Church in Spartanburg. He has since led choir tours of Europe, produced a solo CD of Christmas music performed on organ, and led a 150-voice school choir to the highest score in a recent state-wide competition in Georgia.

Today, Justin is the Music Director and organist for Skidaway Island United Methodist Church in Savannah.

Limestone College is a four-year, liberal arts institution with its main campus in Gaffney, SC. The college is also a pioneer in the medium of Internet-based courses. Established in 1845, Limestone offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of social work, associate of arts, and associate of science degrees through traditional and non-traditional educational opportunities. For more information, log onto www.limestone.edu.

LIMESTONE