MUSC College of Nursing Celebrates New Learning Hub

(Photo: Catherine Durham, DNP, APRN, FNP, FAAN, dean of the College of Nursing and David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, president of MUSC, cut the ribbon on the College of Nursing's new learning hub. Photo provided by MUSC)

Leaders from the College of Nursing at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) gathered last week with MUSC Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and students for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a new hub dedicated to learning, innovation and collaboration.

The renovated space, located on the first floor of the College of Nursing building, will allow the program to enroll and train 40 more undergraduate nursing students per year, preparing them with hands-on skills in realistic settings. 

“The reimagined first floor of the College of Nursing is not just a space. It is a commitment to our students, faculty and the communities we serve,” said Catherine Durham, DNP, APRN, FNP, FAAN, dean of the College of Nursing. “This hub for learning, innovation and collaboration will prepare our students to lead with confidence and compassion.”

The project highlights include:

• A cutting-edge skills lab with advanced nursing simulation capabilities for hands-on learning.
• A 1,700-square-foot lecture hall that converts into smaller meeting spaces.
• Community spaces: A welcoming lobby, multifunctional common area and consolidated Student Services offices designed for connection and convenience.
• State-of-the-art audiovisual technology that supports seamless in-person and remote learning experiences.

“I think that giving students a space like this common area where you have a comfortable, calming, relaxed atmosphere is so important, and this really showcases that,” said Eva Allen, a first-year student in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree program. “I think the renovation has broadened our capabilities for different types of learning.”

The first-floor renovation, which was a yearlong project, was designed to address the projected shortage of 13,000 nurses in South Carolina by 2036.

“By expanding our capacity to enroll and train more students, the College of Nursing is playing a vital role in closing the workforce gap,” Durham said. “Our Experiential Learning Lab and advanced classroom technology will equip students with the hands-on skills they need to thrive.”

During the event, nursing students also demonstrated virtual reality technology that was recently introduced as part of an updated curriculum and advanced technology initiative. The Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation (IVRS) curriculum enhances clinical skills and decision-making. The College of Nursing’s ABSN program is among the first in South Carolina to implement an advanced simulation-based curriculum. 

Weisiger Group Names Amanda Weisiger Cornelson as President

The parent company of LiftOne, Weisiger Group, announced that Amanda Weisiger Cornelson has been promoted to president, transitioning the company to its fourth generation of family leadership.

The upcoming ownership shift to Cornelson and her sisters, Marshall Weisiger Rodman and Grace Weisiger, will create one of the largest privately held women-owned businesses in the Southeast. Ed Weisiger, Jr. will continue as chairman of the Board.

LiftOne has South Carolina locations in Greenville and Columbia.

“I’m excited for this new phase of the company as we position Weisiger Group and our companies for even greater success moving forward,” said Ed Weisiger Jr., chair of Weisiger Group Board.

“We’ve worked through a very thorough succession planning process, and Amanda has demonstrated her leadership in roles throughout our businesses by managing through challenging projects, successfully handling change management, and most importantly, taking the time and care to win the hearts and minds of our employees, customers, and partners.”

“I’m honored to carry on our nearly 100-year history of excellence and continue to partner with our family of 2,300 talented employees, our partners at Caterpillar and Hyster-Yale, and our customers to continue to build, power, and move communities we serve. It’s a rare opportunity and a tremendous privilege to collectively take this business into the fourth generation alongside my sisters, and I am committed to continuously improving and adapting to set us up for a successful future,” Cornelson said.

Cornelson joined Weisiger Group in 2018 and has served in a variety of roles, working both front-line and office jobs across all of the company’s departments, serving most recently as vice president of sales for Carolina Cat. Before joining her family’s company, Cornelson co-founded and led a startup in the retail and e-commerce sector.

She currently serves on Caterpillar’s international Dealer Digital Council as well as on multiple nonprofit boards.

Sylvamo Make Major Investment at Two South Carolina Facilities

Sylvamo (NYSE: SLVM), the world’s paper company, announced major investments at its two South Carolina facilities.

The company plans to invest approximately $145 million in high-return projects to reduce costs and significantly enhance the capabilities at its mill in Eastover, South Carolina. The investments come on the heels of the mill’s 40th anniversary.

Sylvamo will invest approximately $100 million to speed up one of its paper machines by the end of 2026, modernizing it to the same world class level as the mill’s other machine. The investment will enable the machine to produce approximately 60,000 additional short tons of uncoated freesheet annually.

The company will also invest roughly $45 million for a new replacement sheeter at its Sumter, South Carolina, sheeting plant. The state-of-the-art cutsize sheeter, which converts large rolls of paper from the mill into sheets, will lower costs and add flexibility to service customers when it’s online by late 2026.

“We believe investing in our low-cost assets will strengthen our competitive advantage. Eastover is one of the most competitive paper mills in the world, and it will continue to be an important part of our story for years to come,” said Jean-Michel Ribiéras, chairman and chief executive officer.

Sylvamo is also entering a 20-year partnership to outsource its Eastover woodyard operations. Modernization will enable more efficient, reliable, cost-effective wood processing and additional flexibility.

It will also allow the company to avoid approximately $75 million in capital spending over the next five years.

The company will host an event at the mill with team members, community partners and elected officials in the coming months to celebrate the investments.

Homes For Our Troops to Build Adapted Home for Belton Veteran

The national nonprofit organization Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) will kick off the building of a specially adapted home for Army SFC Daniel Metzdorf on Feb. 22, 2025. Metzdorf was injured while serving in Iraq.

 The Community Kickoff event signifies the start of the build process and will introduce SFC Metzdorf to the community. The event will be held at First Baptist Church Belton 105 Brown Ave., Belton, at 10 a.m.

On Jan. 27, 2004, Sergeant First Class Metzdorf, on his second combat tour, was conducting a night patrol with the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq when a roadside bomb detonated, killing three soldiers, and injuring three others, including Daniel. He sustained severe injuries resulting in the loss of his right leg above the knee.

The home being built for Metzdorf will feature more than 40 major special adaptations such as widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower, and kitchen amenities that include pull-down shelving and lowered countertops.

The home will also alleviate the mobility and safety issues associated with a traditional home, including navigating a wheelchair through narrow hallways or over thresholds, or reaching for cabinets that are too high.

HFOT has built over 400 homes since the organization’s inception in 2004. Homes For Our Troops relies on contributions from donors, supporters, and corporate partners for the building of each veteran’s home. Community members may hold fundraisers or make donations.

To find out more on how to get involved or make a donation visit www.hfotusa.org.

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