Newberry College Announces New Partnership with S.C. National Guard
May 6, 2024
Newberry College has entered a historic new partnership with the South Carolina Army National Guard. The agreement was announced Wednesday in a ceremony at Holland Hall on the college campus.
The enhanced partnership includes a $1,000 scholarship, acceptance of all tuition assistance from the South Carolina Army National Guard, and an on-campus liaison for students who are members of the guard.
“Every time I see a man or a woman in uniform, I know that that person has a calling, and that calling is one of the most selfless callings you could have. And that is to dedicate your life to protecting others,” said Newberry College President Maurice Scherrens. “We want to extend to all those who belong to the South Carolina Army National Guard a scholarship on top of the scholarships that we offer to all other incoming students.
“We think that you’ll add an element to the College, but more than anything else, it’s a way to, in a very, very small way, pay it forward to you for all that you’ve done, and all that your predecessors have done over the years, to keep places like this safe,” added Scherrens.
The event’s keynote was given by Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Jones, deputy adjutant general of South Carolina, who highlighted Newberry College’s history of contributions to the United States Armed Forces.
“We’re honored to help celebrate what I call an enhanced partnership with a university that has such a rich legacy of preparing students for success and for service,” said Jones. “I call this an ‘enhanced partnership’ because our relationship, the National Guard and Newberry College, has always been strong.”
Jones said that the college created the Student Army Training Corps during World War I and hosted a unit of the U.S. Navy’s V-12 officer training program during World War II. In 1945, the Navy launched the SS Newberry Victory, named in honor of Newberry College. Jones also praised “the countless Newberry alumni who have raised their right hands and swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and they’ve served around the world.
“Now is an exciting time to be at Newberry College, and we want to be part of that excitement,” said Jones. “We look forward, through tuition assistance, but I think more importantly, a presence on campus, to help inspire students, both in uniform and out of uniform. To dream more, to believe more, to learn more, and to become more.”
Scherrens cemented the partnership with a proclamation, which was read by Bill Nash, chief development officer, and presented to Jones.
The partnership will be facilitated on campus by Sgt. Gabriel Butler, a 2009 Newberry College graduate and recruiting and retention NCO for the South Carolina Army National Guard.
About Newberry College: Newberry College is a private, residential, co-educational institution with a diverse student population. Founded in 1856 by the Lutheran Church, Newberry College is one of the South’s top 10 best colleges according to U.S. News & World Report, consistently honored for value (No. 3), social mobility (No. 4), best colleges for veterans (No. 2) and overall best (No. 10). Offering baccalaureate degrees in 39 majors, three graduate programs, six fully online undergraduate programs and five dual-degree programs, the College’s foundation remains grounded in the liberal arts. In addition, the College offers 24 NCAA Division II sports, cheerleading, dance and esports. Newberry College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the National Association of Schools of Music. For more information, visit newberry.edu.
