Another year, another record

DR. WALT GRIFFIN "Today more than 1,000 Limestone College alumni reside in Cherokee County. Approximately one of every 30 Cherokee County adults is a graduate of Limestone." Limestone College has 775 full-time day students this fall, marking the 15th straight year the college has had an enrollment increase.

Limestone College is now the largest of the 20 accredited private colleges in South Carolina with a total enrollment of 3,500 students in its day and extended campus programs.

This is one of the most diverse Limestone student groups in years with a record 40 international students and students from 30 states, some as far away as Oklahoma and Idaho.

About 20 percent of this year's students are Cherokee County residents.

"Today more than 1,000 Limestone College alumni reside in Cherokee County. Approximately one of every 30 Cherokee County adults is a graduate of Limestone," Limestone College President Dr. Walt Griffin said. "Because of the generous financial support provided by individuals and businesses to Limestone College, the college awards each of these 156 day students an automatic $1,500 scholarship, based on their Cherokee County residency."

Limestone College awarded $234,000 in residential scholarships to county residents this academic year. Area students received another $347,708 in academic, music, theater, art and athletic scholarships.

Local students received an average of $3,729 in financial aid from Limestone College. This is in addition to federal and state financial aid and other scholarships.

Many Cherokee County residents repay the generosity by volunteering in the community and staying here to work after graduating from Limestone.

"Our Limestone students spend thousands of hours each year doing good works in the Cherokee County community - volunteering in the schools and at local agencies, interning at local businesses and participating in many special events," Griffin said. "It is estimated that Limestone's economic impact on our local community is $40 million per year."

Limestone College raised $15,182 for its Cherokee County Scholarship Program at a "Scholars, Dollars and Chocolates" banquet on Thursday. Griffin said the college will hold the event annually.

"On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, I want to express our deep appreciation to all of the people who helped make tonight a great success," Griffin told the sold-out crowd at Thursday's banquet. "You have proven that you are interested in Limestone, that you support our students, and that you love chocolate."