10.01.04

From left, high school students Tristan McManus, Shawn Anderson and Kimberly Barron were among the students who visited Erskine with the Board of Counselors Friday.

Erskine Board of Counselors challenged to take on projects

In a meeting today conducted by Dr. Robert J. Robinson of Rock Hill,  the Erskine Board of Counselors heard greetings from Erskine College and Seminary President Dr. John Carson; introduced themselves to each other; and received encouragement to take on campus projects.

"We hope this will be an active board, a purposeful board that will make strong strides at Erskine College and Erskine Seminary," Director of Major Gift Planning Bobby McDonald told the counselors.

McDonald also praised the counselors' student recruitment efforts. Several counselors  brought prospective students with them, including Robinson, who was accompanied by his grandson, Rob Senn, as well as another high school student. "Thank you for making those contacts," McDonald said.

Carson spoke about Erskine's progress toward the goals of the institution's strategic plan, including surpassing the college enrollment goal of 600, and distributed a list of college and seminary highlights showing gains in enrollment, renovations and programs.

Robinson, in his first year as chairman, asked everyone attending the meeting to stand and introduce themselves, and many counselors cited Erskine connections that motivated them to serve the college and seminary.

He urged the counselors to keep in mind the impact Erskine can have on the lives of young men and women. 

"I know it was the Erskine experience that really gave my life meaning and purpose," said Robinson, a retired ARP minister from Rock Hill who initially saw coming to Erskine as "a ticket to get off the farm."

He said at first he spent his time at Erskine "going to classes and trying to spend as much time as possible on the women's campus," but then "several things came together in a grand confluence of purpose," including realizing the importance of the education he was pursuing, meeting his future wife, and feeling the first stirrings of a call to the ministry.

Robinson issued a challenge to the counselors, saying, "I want us to be more than cheerleaders — I want us to be involved in some practical ways." He said counselors might identify short- or long-term projects and have the satisfaction of seeing what they accomplish during a term on the board.

"When we tour the campus today, take a pen and pad with you and when you see an opportunity, jot it down," he said.

Following the opening session, counselors broke into committee meetings. Assisting with the committee sessions were McDonald; Erskine Seminary Dean Emeritus Dr. Randy Ruble; Admissions Director Bart Walker; Student Activities Director Brooke Clinton; Dean of Students Dr. Robyn Agnew; Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs Ralph Patterson; and Vice President for Development Lee Logan. The Erskine Ambassadors, student volunteers in the Admissions office, led campus tours. The board reconvened for committee reports.

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