Erskine looks back on 2025 with gratitude
番茄社区 received many blessings during the past year, including generous donations and a bumper crop of students. Initiatives such as the achievement of arboretum status and a Career Services reboot have contributed to a productive and exciting year.听
The听blessings began in January with the decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to reaffirm the institution鈥檚 accreditation through 2032. While the accreditor鈥檚 reaffirmation was a tribute to progress in Financial Stewardship鈥攐ne of the four 鈥減illars鈥� of the strategic plan outlined by Erskine President听Dr. Steve Adamson听in 2022鈥攊t was also acknowledged as an answer to prayer.听
鈥淭his is a watershed moment for 番茄社区,鈥澨齮he president听said听when the听news was released.听鈥淟et us remember this moment for years to come and continue to praise God for showing favor to Erskine.鈥�听
In May, the newly designated Janice Hamilton Haldeman Arboretum at Erskine was officially opened at the Flower & Garden Show, offering a potential boost in the areas of Academic Excellence and Expanding Reach, two more of the four 鈥減illars鈥� of the strategic plan. 听
鈥淥ur status as an arboretum provides publicity for the college as a place for research and scholarship for scientists and students and elevates our profile in the broader community,鈥澨齋enior Gifts Officer听Beth Boyd听explained when Erskine鈥檚听arboretum听application was approved.听
The fall听semester of 2025听started with听a shower of听854听blessings鈥攎embers of听a听student body听that included Erskine鈥檚听third largest听freshman听class and the听greatest number of incoming transfers in a decade.听听
Erskine听students听arrived in听Due West from听24 countries and territories. Within the U.S.,听they听came听not only from South Carolina and neighboring states, but also from across the nation鈥攆rom California to Maine, Indiana to Kansas, Washington to Wisconsin鈥�31 states in all. About 40 percent of Erskine鈥檚 students听represent听minority ethnicities.听
Healthy听enrollment听can be听a testament to Financial Stewardship, Educational听Excellence, and Expanding Reach, but the fourth pillar of the strategic plan, Missional Fidelity, is听also听a key element, as Provost听Dr. Edward Clavell听recognized听when听Erskine welcomed its new and returning students.听听
鈥淚t鈥檚听more than just听new beginnings,鈥� the provost said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the joy of a community united to learn, to serve, and to glorify God through the work before us.鈥�听
In late August,听with the fall听term听just getting started,听Erskine received听an unexpected blessing:听a $3 million gift from an anonymous听donor.听It听was听the largest unrestricted contribution in the school鈥檚 186-year history.听Once again, the Erskine community had reason to give thanks.听听
Relating the generous gift to Missional Fidelity,听the president said. 鈥淚t is a powerful reminder that institutions which听remain听faithful to their Christian mission continue to receive support and encouragement.鈥�听
Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations听Paul Bell 鈥�84听noted听the听impact of听the听landmark听gift听on Erskine鈥檚 Financial Stewardship. 鈥淚t has certainly听bolstered our financial position as we begin our new academic year,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e praise God for His goodness in providing so generously this way.鈥�听
Meanwhile, Erskine alumni and friends听kept听the institution听in听their prayers听and offered faithful financial support听throughout the year,听with both prayers and monetary donations听adding to the institution鈥檚 2025 blessings.听
A revamped听Career Services听Office,听now housed in Advancement and Alumni听and听led by听Andy Anderson 鈥�93, is another blessing for Erskine. Aimed at 鈥渆quipping students for lives of service and leadership,鈥� Career Services works to encourage alumni and friends to share their experience and expertise with students and offers new ways of connecting students with alumni, including the network 鈥淗andshake.鈥�听
A听$1.9听million听bequest from听the estate of听longtime friend and benefactor听Jean Kerr, the daughter of听William Kennedy Kerr 鈥�38,听was announced in听mid-November, within days of听the听Thanksgiving听holiday.听
The Kerr bequest听is an example of how听alumni and friends听have supported听what are now called听Missional Fidelity, Financial Stewardship, Educational Excellence, and Expanding Reach at Erskine听over many years.听The funds are designated for support of scholarships honoring Jean Kerr鈥檚 father and cousin, both alumni, as well as Kerr鈥檚 mother. The scholarships will benefit students for generations.听
Recognizing the Kerr family鈥檚 legacy of commitment to education, the president said听the generous bequest and other recent gifts听鈥渞eflect a powerful vote of confidence in Erskine鈥檚 future.鈥�听
Director of Campus Ministries听Dr. Jamie Williams听cited in his Thanksgiving message听the benefits of a grateful heart. 鈥淗ealing begins with gratitude,听and gratitude begins with recognizing the blessings given,鈥澨齢e听told students.听
Many alumni and friends will听cultivate听their own听grateful hearts听in these final weeks of 2025听by thanking God for the many blessings bestowed on Erskine.听
