Joseph McAbee, a rising senior at Wofford College, is the 2011-2012 J. Lacy McLean Scholarship recipient and the Independent College Student of the Year. The award is presented annually by the South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities and includes a $2,000 scholarship.

McAbee is a biology major and neuroscience minor with a 4.0 GPA. He is actively involved in his campus community by participating in numerous organizations such as Senior Delegate, Chaplain and Parliamentarian of the Wofford Campus Union, Leader of United Worship, President of Alpha Epsilon Delta, Alpha Phi Omega, Board of Trustees Development Committee, Residential Peer Mentor, and Chair of Twin Towers Service Organization.

The Woodruff, SC native plans to enroll in medical school after he graduates from Wofford College. McAbee observed that "through the many experiences that I have had over the past three years, I have solidified my desire to become a physician, a profession that I believe will combine both my passion for service and my passion for medicine."

Shelbee Cupp, a rising junior at Erskine College, is the Sterling L. Smith Scholarship recipient for 2011-2012. The award is presented annually by the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities to a student who qualifies for a Higher Education Tuition Grant and includes a $1,000 scholarship.

Cupp, an early childhood education major with a 4.0 GPA, serves her college community as a Presidential Ambassador and as a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries and Erskine College Society of Psychology. She is a Supplemental Instruction Leader, Fundraising Chair and Rush Vice-Chair of the Athenian Literary Society, and a Homecoming Court Attendant. The Manning, SC native also takes part in several other service projects such as Relay for Life, Widow's Ministry, Breast Cancer Awareness, and canned food drives.

Cupp plans to enter the teaching profession after graduating from Erskine. She states that, "As a teacher, I see this as a magnificent opportunity to be creative and inspiring," in order to, "teach students not only the books, but also incorporate life skills in order to allow productive decision making and thoughtful reasoning."

The J. Lacy McLean Scholarship is named in honor of J. Lacy McLean, who joined SCICU in 1954 and served as the organization's president for 34 years. The Sterling L. Smith Scholarship is named in honor of Sterling L. Smith, who joined SCICU in 1960 as the legislative liaison for the organization's member colleges and universities. Smith was instrumental in crafting the development of the South Carolina Tuition Grant program.

The recipients and their families will be honored at a luncheon as part of the October 13 meeting of the SCICU Board of Trustees at Converse College. The annual award winners are selected by the Center for Scholarship Administration from dozens of applications received from students at SCICU member institutions.

SCICU College Guide is published annually to assist students and their parents choose the college or university that meets each student's unique combination of intellectual, personal, and financial needs. It contains general information about South Carolina's independent colleges and universities, a location map, quick facts about the member institutions, detailed financial aid information, school visitation dates, and in-depth profiles of each of the 20 private colleges in South Carolina.

Printed copies of the 2011-2012 College Guide are distributed broadly to students and parents, high school counselors and teachers, trustees, friends and supporters of SCICU, state legislators, and those interested in learning more about the excellent learning opportunities available at South Carolina's independent colleges and universities. A complete electronic copy is available in the publications section at www.scicu.org.

The Career Services Directors group recently opened employer registration for the 19th annual Career Connections event. Scheduled for February 24 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Career Connections 2012 will bring together seniors from SCICU's 20 member colleges and universities with employers looking to hire the best and the brightest men and women available. Fifty-five employers and more than 300 students attended last year's event.

Career Services Directors will work with the seniors on their campuses to help them prepare to meet prospective employers. Employers may find additional information and on-line registration by clicking on the following link.

A number of students from SCICU member institutions volunteer each year to assist in this ever-expanding event which is coordinated by the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education. For many students, completing a college application and submitting it on time is one of the first barriers to furthering their education.

Throughout the month of October 2010, fifty-seven South Carolina high schools hosted individual College Application Day events where 15,000 students received assistance completing and filing college applications. On average, each student completed two applications and a total of over 30,000 applications were submitted to colleges throughout the state of South Carolina.

College Application Month 2011 will involve more high school students and volunteers than in the two years prior. Click here for more information and to get involved.