The University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business is creating a new pathway for students from South Carolina’s historically Black colleges and universities to earn Master of Accountancy degrees.

Leaders from Benedict College and the Moore School announced the launch of the MACC Emerging Leaders Program, July 19, 2022, at a signing ceremony held at the Benedict College Business Development Center.

“As the flagship university in the state of South Carolina, it is our mission to educate the citizens of our state,” said Tracey Weldon, dean of the UofSC Graduate School.

“Partnerships like this with our local historically Black colleges and universities will ensure that the state of South Carolina retains diverse, high-performing talent that will contribute greatly to its future growth.”

Three students from Benedict College have been selected for the program’s inaugural fall 2022 cohort, which will provide students with mentors from both institutions and professional mentors.

As part of the program, students will receive financial support that covers their tuition for the year-long degree program and a $5,000 stipend to assist with living expenses while they are enrolled.

"Our partnership with the Darla Moore School of Business is unique," says Tracy Dunn, dean of Benedict’s Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

"This program represents a significant financial investment in Benedict College accounting graduates who will receive a world-class graduate education in the UofSC Master of Accountancy program."

The first female dean of Benedict College’s business school, Dunn earned her ’96 MBA and ’03 Ph.D. in business administration from the Moore School.

The inaugural MACC Emerging Leaders Program was made possible by the support of accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman, now known as FORVIS after a recent merger.

In addition to FORVIS’s support, funding for the MACC Emerging Leaders Program has also been awarded through the University of South Carolina Rising STARS Fellowship, a university-wide initiative to provide funding opportunities for graduates of South Carolina HBCUs to pursue graduate education at the UofSC-Columbia campus.

The Charleston Digital Corridor (CDC) announced the launch of the Charleston Apple Museum, the first and only in the southeast U.S.

The Charleston Apple Museum, anchored by items from the Schiffman Collection, represents devices and related exhibits exclusively from the 40+ years of Apple's innovative product history.

The collection, currently comprised of approximately 75 exhibits from 1979 forward, includes computers, personal digital assistants, cameras, scanners, printers, wireless routers, music players, and more.

"We are passionate about supporting our tech community and the Charleston Apple Museum is a great new way of doing just that," said CDC Director Ernest Andrade. "Anyone is welcome to visit of course, but we're especially looking forward to hosting students and school-age visitors."

Andrade added, "We owe a big thank you to Noah Schiffman, a local technologist who has entrusted us with his valuable and unique collection."

The Charleston Apple Museum, located in the Flagship at the Charleston Tech Center (997 Morrison Drive, 2nd floor), is open to the public Monday-Friday from 9a.m.-5 p.m., or by special appointment.

Although there is no charge to visit the museum, donations are welcome

Those interested can get involved with the Charleston Apple Museum in two ways: donating Apple products or other Apple-specific material; or by becoming a Friend of the Charleston Apple Museum, allowing for the ongoing upkeep, promotion, and expansion of the museum.

The Greenville Drive, BMW, Michelin, Greenville County Schools, GE, and Greenville Technical  College will host Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering (AM&E) Night at Fluor Field in Greenville on Tuesday, July 26.

Organizers say the goal is to build awareness and “ignite the passion” with students, parents, and guidance counselors across the Upstate about career opportunities available in the rapidly changing world of advanced manufacturing and engineering.  

Organizers say they have scaled up efforts to bring awareness to the growing skills gap challenge in the Upstate. This year’s event will feature a panel discussion held on Fluor Field’s new District 356 entertainment space that is open to all attendees.

The panel is comprised of leaders from across the Upstate talking about how students can best pursue advanced manufacturing and engineering as careers.

Included on the leadership panel are Dr. Robert Engelhorn (president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing), Dr. Keith Miller (president of  Greenville Technical College), Cauiss Holmes (manufacturing director at Michelin’s Earthmover Facility), and David Kirk (graduate of the Bachelor in Applied Science in Advanced Manufacturing Technology at Greenville Technical College).

The panel will be moderated by Alex Estevez (partner, Accel Partners), one of the  region’s most successful entrepreneurs.  

The concourse at Fluor Field and all game programming will be designed to open the eyes of young people to career opportunities in manufacturing and engineering, organizers said.

To encourage students to enjoy the learning experience, the Drive is providing tickets to all K-12 students on a complimentary basis.    

Students and all event attendees will be able to attend the panel discussion and visit engaging exhibits on the stadium concourse from the region’s largest companies demonstrating the creative application of  technology to the manufacturing process.

Exhibits will include an on-site Michelin wrapped BMW M2 competition vehicle, robotics demonstrations and robot races from Bosch Rexroth, 3D modeling and blue light scanning from General Electric.

As students visit each exhibit, they will be enrolled in the  “Young Innovators Club” giving them the opportunity to win prizes including drones, BMW driving experiences, and more.

Adults are also encouraged to attend AM&E Night, with Drive baseball tickets starting at $9.  

Attendees are encouraged to attend the pregame activities that include live music, entertainment, light food,  and beverages with the panel discussion starting at 5:30 p.m. at District 356 behind Fluor Field.

For activities, schedules, and locations, go to: www.greenvilledrive.com/ame. First pitch of the Drive game versus Bowling Green follows at 7:05 pm. 

When times are tough and many feel a strain on their pocketbooks, older South Carolinians who are already in need of nutritious meals and the nonprofits that serve them can and do struggle to just get by.

To both assist and amplify this critical need, the Duke Energy Foundation is funding $100,000 in grants to 23 mobile feeding programs that serve more than 10,000 seniors every day across the state.

The grants come at a time of great need, with many feeding programs feeling the financial double impact of recovering from the pandemic and economic uncertainties, Duke Energy officials say. Rising costs are challenging the daily food operations of these community organizations, and the impacts at the gas pump have led to a large number of volunteer drivers stepping down or modifying their delivery routes, the officials say.

"Food insecurity is a challenge for many and directly impacts the communities we serve," said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy's South Carolina state president. "We hope this funding will fill a crucial gap while also shining a bright light on the people who do this amazing work to support our seniors each and every day."

Duke Energy officials say the grants will allow local organizations to either purchase gas cards to supplement volunteers' costs to deliver meals, or offset the cost of paid drivers, allowing these groups to continue to feed seniors much-needed nutritious meals.

A complete list of recipients can be found here.