Honored Sandlappers
Former Governor Riley Recognized for His Dedication to the Arts
The S.C. Arts Foundation presented former S.C. Governor and U.S.
Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley with the McNair Award for his
leadership and dedication to the arts and arts education in S.C.
“Throughout his career, Dick Riley has worked tirelessly to improve lives and opportunities for citizens and students in our state and nation. He has been a champion of the arts as a means of enhancing our quality of life, economic development and the education of our children,” says Patrick R. VanHuss, S.C. Arts Foundation president. "The members of the S.C. Arts Foundation join me in honoring Governor Riley for his tremendous efforts in supporting the arts and improving education for all students."
As a member of the S.C. General Assembly, Riley was instrumental in crafting legislation that established requirements for arts instruction during the school day. As Governor of South Carolina (1979-87), Riley initiated the Education Improvement Act to enact a quality program of public instruction for current and future generations. Among other initiatives, the EIA directed funding to support Gifted and Talented programs in the arts for public schools.
In 1980, he created the Governor’s Task Force on the Arts, charged with laying “the foundation for building an infrastructure for the arts in South Carolina.” This led to the creation of the Joint Legislative Committee on Cultural Affairs, which championed the growth of the state’s arts sector and comprehensive reform in arts education through the Arts in Basic Curriculum program. He was instrumental in establishing the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. In 1980, he added to the prestige of the S.C. Arts Commission’s Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award, giving it the official designation as the Governor’s Award for the Arts.
Established in 2007, the McNair Award is named for the late Governor
Robert E. McNair, who signed legislation to create the Arts Commission
in 1967 to “ensure that the arts continue to grow and play an ever more
significant part in the welfare and educational experiences of our
citizens."
Lifetime Achievement Award for Lindsay Pettus
Lindsay Pettus of Lancaster has been honored with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation Lifetime Achievement Award for his work protecting and conserving the Catawba River Valley. Pettus grew up near the river and has spent years making sure it remains pristine. Founder and president of the Katawba Valley Land Trust, Pettus also recently received the Keepers of the Culture award for his work protecting the Catawba River basin. Besides his work in real estate and studying Lancaster County history, Pettus finds time to contribute to Sandlapper Society as an advisory board member. Read more about his work conserving the Catawba River in the winter 2007-08 Sandlapper, "Islands & Falls," p. 43.
Goose Creek Baker Wins National Search
Laurie Ladd, a Goose Creek mother of six and devoted baker, has won the first “Who is Mrs. Freshley’s” search. The Georgia-based snack cake and pastry company asked consumers to define the characteristics of the brand by describing the Mrs. Freshley in their lives. Serge Ladd secretly nominated his wife, a consummate baker. “Laurie’s baked goods have become household favorites for many families in several states as our family relocated over the years with the Air Force,” Serge Ladd wrote in the Facebook nomination. “She certainly has left her mark on other families, but more importantly, has instilled a love for baking and cooking in our children that will last for many generations to come.”Mrs. Ladd was selected from “an overwhelming amount of entries from all over the country,” according to press information. She will receive a $2,000 American Express gift card and may be featured in future merchandising.
