Aiken’s Center for Lifelong Learning, a partnership organization with USC Aiken, held its annual Recognition Day on Wednesday afternoon.
The program and luncheon was in honor of Dr. Earl E. Kauffman, who played a large role in establishing in 1989 the Academy for Lifelong Learning, a predecessor to CLL.
The CLL offers continuing education opportunities to adults in Aiken and the surrounding CSRA through a variety of courses from Apple technology to ecology.
During this annual day of recognition, the Earl F. Kauffman Award is given to a group or individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of the CLL. This recognition has been given each year since 1992.
This year’s award was presented by CLL Vice President Jim Tisaranni to Carl Fields. Tisaranni said that this was an “easy choice, and long overdue.”
Fields, who worked as both an engineer and a teacher, was recognized for being a “volunteer mainstay” at the center over the last 20 years. He has taught classes and served as curriculum chair for the program.
Last year’s Kauffman Award was presented to Wayne Rickman, who was the CLL’s first president.
This year, the CLL presented a new honor — the President’s Award — which is given to an individual with a record of distinguished service on the board of directors. The CLL’s first President’s Award was received by Daniel Gluvna, general studies curriculum chair.
“I’m just so excited to have such quality people to work with,” said Gluvna of the center, adding that his role is “probably the most rewarding job that I’ve ever had.”
Each year, CLL provides scholarships to USC Aiken students. This year, scholarships were awarded to two students in the college’s Pacer LIFE program: David Evan Smith and Aniyah Booker.
Pacer LIFE is a two-year program designed for students with intellectual disabilities, with a focus on academic and social inclusion. The program’s goal is to help these students live independently.
Additionally, USCA’s soon-to-retire interim provost and former Dean of Nursing, Thayer McGahee, was recognized by the CLL for her efforts to encourage USC Aiken professors to teach at the center and get involved. McGahee received a gift from the organization.
“Y’all's mission of lifelong learning is something we try to instill in our students,” McGahee said.
She also said that the center embodies what USC Aiken believes in passing on to students, which is “to never quit learning.”
At the conclusion of the event, the Center for Lifelong Learning’s current president, Raleigh Daniel, was presented a plaque of appreciation for his time filling the role. Tisaranni is the upcoming president of the organization.
