Back-to-School Picnic Celebrates College of Charleston Employees

^{Photos by Catie Cleveland}

For 31 years, College of Charleston faculty and staff have started the fall semester with a back-to-school picnic and presentation of service awards to College employees. And this year was no different.

On Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, employees came together in TD Arena to mark the beginning of another academic year, welcome new colleagues and celebrate employees who have served the State of South Carolina for 10, 20 and 30 years.

“This annual event is a great way to kick off the new school year, enjoy the company of colleagues and show our appreciation to those who have reached career service milestones,” says Ed Pope, vice president of human resources.

President Andrew T. Hsu kicked off the appreciation by thanking employees for their continued hard work and all that they do to support CofC students. Hsu also welcomed Renee Romberger, chair of the College of Charleston Board of Trustees, as well as all the new employees before recognizing the recipients of the 2024 Distinguished Faculty Awards and the 2024 Staff Awards.

“The College of Charleston is extraordinary because we are made up of extraordinary people,” Hsu concluded before turning the mic over to Pope to recognize the 2024 state service award recipients one by one.

Congratulations, and a huge thank-you to the following employees recognized this year!

10 Years of Service

• Joanna E. Allen, School of the Arts
• Dominick J. Bataller, Facilities Management – Plumbing Shop
• Barbara A. Beckingham, Geology
• Juliette Bourdier, French-Francophone-Italian Studies
• Bill J. Buckley, Facilities Management – Carpentry Shop
• Julia O. Downs, School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs
• Kevin W. Eakes, Certification and Clinical Practice
• Andrea Evans, History
• Grant Gilmore, Art and Architectural History
• Kenyatta C. Grimmage, Admissions
• Robert L. Keller, Information Technology
• Susan J. Klein, Studio Art
• Brian E. Kloman, Athletics
• James Malm, Finance
• Anastasia M. Montjoy, Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs
• Lamont Moore, Grounds Maintenance
• Katherine M. Mullaugh, Chemistry
• Michael S. O’Brien, Music
• Robyn Olejniczak, Graduate School
• Anne Osowski, Disability Services
• Lauren D. Ravalico, French-Francophone-Italian Studies
• Chelsea A. Reid-Short, Psychology
• Stephen D. Short, Psychology
• Jon G. Townsley, Grice Marine Lab
• Bill VanDenburgh, Accounting and Business Law
• Ricard Vinas De Puig, Hispanic Studies
• Brenda L. Washington, Public Safety
• Kristin M. Wichmann, Career Center
• Keith D. Wiggans, Soccer-Men

20 Years of Service

• Andrew J. Bergstrom, Information Technology
• John E. Bruns, English
• Giovanna DeLuca, French-Francophone-Italian Studies
• Irina Gigova, History
• Susan L. Hartman, Student Affairs
• Narayanan Kuthirummal, Physics
• Stephane Lafortune, Mathematics
• Nandini B. McCauley, School of the Arts
• Susan A. Rivaleau, Office of Research and Grants Administration
• Elijah T. Siegler, Religious Studies
• Karen M. Smail, Health and Human Performance
• Elena C. Strauman, Communication

30 Years of Service

• Terence N. Bowers, English
• Scott Peeples, English
• John S. Peters, Biology (pictured, left)
• Susan J. Simonian, Psychology (pictured, left)