Dianna Plyler

Dianna Plyler '03

Plyler Named Independent School Student of the Year

During her three years as a student at Erskine College, senior Dianna Plyler of Aiken has studied at Oxford and spent a summer volunteering on a medical mission trip to Honduras, building an undergraduate resumé that she hopes one day will allow her to serve full-time on a foreign mission field.

Now she can add to that resumé her selection as South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) Student of the Year, a $2,000 award given annually to the top student from the state’s 20 private schools, a total of more than 26,000 students.

Plyler is the third Erskine student in the past seven years to win the award, including Brandon Davis in 1997 and and Sara Hoffman in 1996. Davis went on to attend the Medical University of South Carolina and Hoffman earned a master of arts degree from George Washington University.

“I feel honored, almost undeserving,” Plyler said.

During the application process for the award, which is named for J. Macy McLain, Plyler said she didn’t think about the other students and other schools she would be up against.

“I just wanted to show who I am and how and what I think,” Plyler said. “I wanted to be honest and truthful about what I feel I got out of college and let it go from there. If they felt like that was what they wanted to represent this state, then so be it. I wasn’t going to try to make my application fit a mold or try to be something that I am not.”

Plyler said she was asked to explain why she thinks a college education is important, and that she tried to answer from her own Erskine perspective.

“What I focused on wasn’t the degree I would receive but the experiences I had in college that have mentally prepared me to be a lifelong learner,” Plyler said. “In college I learned how to learn and how to adapt to new situations as opposed to just earning a biology or chemistry degree.”

While at Erskine, Plyler said she learned how to be a capable learner, and that is what she expressed in her essay.

“Erskine is small enough so that I had a lot of one-on-one time with my professors,” she said. “That makes you be more accountable and more prepared for classes. It is a challenging atmosphere and that forces you to adapt. Erskine has a high academic standard and that instantly makes you more focused.”

Plyler also said she benefitted from the expertise of the Erskine faculty. “Our faculty is on a par with any of the private schools in South Carolina,” she said. “The professors care, are interested, and are willing to do anything for students to help shape their lives.”

While at Erskine, Plyler has been a member of the varsity cross country team, served as a Student Life Assistant, worked as Senior Class secretary, served on Judicial Council, helped lead the Good News Club for area children, been tapped for membership in the leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa and the biology honor society Tri-Beta, and served in the Student Christian Association.

Recipients of the J. Lacy McClain award must be residents of South Carolina who have performed well academically and demonstrated the traits characteristic of the life of J. Lacy McLain, including commitment to public affairs, community service and leadership, according to the SCICU.

"This is very exciting,” said Becky Pressley, Erskine Director of Financial Aid. “This is indeed a tremendous honor for Dianna, and Erskine as well. Dianna is most deserving of this award — she is an inspiration and an example for her classmates. Dianna represents the best of the best in South Carolina."

Erskine Vice President and Dean of the College Don Weatherman said, “This just demonstrates what we have always claimed. We may not be as big as other schools and offer as many majors, but what we do and what we offer here, we do exceedingly well.”


		Dianna Plyler '03 Plyler Named Independent School Student of the Year During her three years as a student at Erskine College, senior Dianna Plyler of Aiken has studied at Oxford and spent a summer volunteering on a medical mission trip to Honduras, building an undergraduate resumé that she hopes one day will allow her to serve full-time on a foreign mission field. Now she can add to that resumé her selection as South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) Student of the Year, a $2,000 award given annually to the top student from the state’s 20 private schools, a total of more than 26,000 students. Plyler is the third Erskine student in the past seven years to win the award, including Brandon Davis in 1997 and and Sara Hoffman in 1996. Davis went on to attend the Medical University of South Carolina and Hoffman earned a master of arts degree from George Washington University. “I feel honored, almost undeserving,” Plyler said. During the application process for the award, which is named for J. Macy McLain, Plyler said she didn’t think about the other students and other schools she would be up against. “I just wanted to show who I am and how and what I think,” Plyler said. “I wanted to be honest and truthful about what I feel I got out of college and let it go from there. If they felt like that was what they wanted to represent this state, then so be it. I wasn’t going to try to make my application fit a mold or try to be something that I am not.” Plyler said she was asked to explain why she thinks a college education is important, and that she tried to answer from her own Erskine perspective. “What I focused on wasn’t the degree I would receive but the experiences I had in college that have mentally prepared me to be a lifelong learner,” Plyler said. “In college I learned how to learn and how to adapt to new situations as opposed to just earning a biology or chemistry degree.” While at Erskine, Plyler said she learned how to be a capable learner, and that is what she expressed in her essay. “Erskine is small enough so that I had a lot of one-on-one time with my professors,” she said. “That makes you be more accountable and more prepared for classes. It is a challenging atmosphere and that forces you to adapt. Erskine has a high academic standard and that instantly makes you more focused.” Plyler also said she benefitted from the expertise of the Erskine faculty. “Our faculty is on a par with any of the private schools in South Carolina,” she said. “The professors care, are interested, and are willing to do anything for students to help shape their lives.” While at Erskine, Plyler has been a member of the varsity cross country team, served as a Student Life Assistant, worked as Senior Class secretary, served on Judicial Council, helped lead the Good News Club for area children, been tapped for membership in the leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa and the biology honor society Tri-Beta, and served in the Student Christian Association. Recipients of the J. Lacy McClain award must be residents of South Carolina who have performed well academically and demonstrated the traits characteristic of the life of J. Lacy McLain, including commitment to public affairs, community service and leadership, according to the SCICU. "This is very exciting,” said Becky Pressley, Erskine Director of Financial Aid. “This is indeed a tremendous honor for Dianna, and Erskine as well. Dianna is most deserving of this award — she is an inspiration and an example for her classmates. Dianna represents the best of the best in South Carolina." Erskine Vice President and Dean of the College Don Weatherman said, “This just demonstrates what we have always claimed. We may not be as big as other schools and offer as many majors, but what we do and what we offer here, we do exceedingly well.”