Hadder Rendon flies high

Hadder Rendon’s father caught a glimpse of the enormous opportunities in the United States after a month-long visit in 1988. “From that point on my dad had a dream to take the family to the states,” said Rendon, “and in 1991 he came to the states to find the American dream.” Rendon was nine when he, his five-year-old brother and his mother left Colombia, South America,... Read More

Face of an angel, heart of a lion

In December 2004 Brandy Roberts had a semester of school under her belt and was working in the purchasing office at CSU. This was her second go around at Charleston Southern. In 1994 she had completed a year of school, but when her daughter, Lynlee, was born with health problems, Roberts chose to stay home. Now it was time to finish what she had started. But the prospect for completing... Read More

Gone Fishin’

There are no Halls of Fame for teachers. If there were, Charleston Southern University professors Dr. Jim Barrier and Mr. Steve Best would be enshrined in the biology wing. They’ve put up Hall of Fame numbers. Working side by side in the biology department at CSU since 1973, Barrier and Best have 77 years combined teaching experience, producing 871 biology graduates. They have... Read More

Nursing Graduate Inspired by Adversity

For May graduate, Kelly Laffey, the decision to become a nurse was not a hard one. Inspired by caring nurses who nursed her son to health, Laffey knows firsthand about the caring capacity of nurses. Her oldest son was born premature and spent several months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It was during this time that her calling became clear. “My son is alive today because... Read More

CSU Commencement: A Call to Serve

Thousands of family and friends were in attendance to watch 313 loved ones and friends receive their undergraduate and graduate degrees May 9 at the North Charleston Coliseum. Tom Hood, president and CEO of First Financial Holding, Inc., delivered the commencement speech. Hood has long-standing ties to the local community as a servant-leader. Hood has served as past chairman of... Read More

MBA Program on the Rise

The MBA program continues to earn accolades as the growth and success of the program increases. The Charlotte Business Journal listed in its March 13 edition the Top 25 MBA programs in the Carolinas according to enrollment numbers. Charleston Southern ranked number 10 in the top 25, up one from the previous year. With the recent formation of the Graduate Services Center, the services... Read More

Freshman reading assignment reinforces foundational beliefs

This summer’s reading assignment for entering freshmen was the student edition of The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. As an atheist, Stroble viewed Christianity as “nothing but superstition and wishful thinking” until his wife, Leslie, announced she had become a Christian. The positive changes in Leslie’s life intrigued and motivated Strobel, a Harvard law graduate and legal... Read More

SIFE Team Wins at Regionals

The CSU Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team was named Rookie of the Year at the SIFE USA Regional Competition recently in Charlotte. “The Charleston Southern team accomplished a lot in its first year; they gave an outstanding presentation at the regional competition and looks forward to next year’s competition,” said Dr. David Houghton, the team’s faculty advisor and... Read More

Athletic Training Staff Earns Top Award

At the South Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association (SCATA) Annual Symposium, Charleston Southern was awarded the College and University Athletic Training Staff of the Year. The staff is composed of seven certified athletic trainers: head athletic trainer, Toby Harkins; associate athletic trainer, Brad Drake; assistant athletic trainers, Tadd Turnquist, Tuesday Patterson, and... Read More

Squirewell Awarded Graduate Fellowship

“The last four years have been the best years of my life,” says recent grad Edwin Squirewell. Squirewell was born and raised in the small rural town of Ridgeway, just north of Columbia. Along with his brother, he is the first generation of the Squirewell family to attend college. Reflecting on his time at Charleston Southern, Squirewell says he is convinced CSU is the place... Read More