91福利社鈥檚 most anticipated cultural event is back! The President鈥檚 Gala is returning for two sparkling nights鈥擜pril 22 and 23. The South Carolina School of the Arts is proud to present this joyous celebration of the 2021-2022 academic year. 

The finest musicians, dancers, actors and vocalists at 91福利社 will perform at this year’s President’s Gala.

The President鈥檚 Gala includes everything from rousing orchestral arrangements to dance to pop鈥攕how tunes, too. 

The President’s Gala is a gift to the community from AU. Tickets are required and can be obtained through the AU Box Office or . The tickets will go early as the event has a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest and most diverse musical spectacles in Upstate South Carolina each year. 

Senior Max Milian, one of the student arrangers and student musical director for AUthenticity, Anderson鈥檚 commercial music ensemble, says that coming back to a live in-person performance gives students the experiences they鈥檝e missed over the past two years.

鈥淚 think it provides both audience members and performers a real chance to actually not take things for granted,鈥� Milian said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful for the opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra in an auditorium with a thousand people in the audience. Those are things that, during my freshman year, were a big opportunity before the pandemic hit; we鈥檝e missed that, but coming back to it is really exciting.鈥� 

McCayla Ratcliffe, a senior majoring in worship leadership who was once an American Idol contestant in Hollywood, California, has been leading worship in chapels and following God鈥檚 call into music ministry. As with other graduating seniors, the 2022 President鈥檚 Gala for her is special. 

鈥淓veryone is super excited because we鈥檝e been deprived of being all together and having that community and that social aspect of performance as an event. It鈥檚 definitely missed, so people really appreciate it a lot more, especially as a performer,鈥� said Ratcliffe.

For Spencer Dulin, a musical theatre major and commercial music minor, the reality of Gala returning to its full glory is still sinking in.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be huge鈥� you almost have to stop and  believe it鈥檚 a full-fledged production again,鈥� Dulin said 鈥淚t鈥檚 just really exciting because there鈥檚 a lot of good work being showcased and there are a lot of very talented people involved.鈥�

鈥淭he best thing about Gala and honestly this whole department is you get to work with so many people who are outside of your major you didn鈥檛 think you鈥檇 work with. So I鈥檓 excited to do that again and excited that the choir is together again and the orchestra,鈥� said Angelina Chisholm, a senior double majoring in worship leadership and communication. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a bit of nervousness about all of us being there and everything in full swing again.鈥� 

Both Gala performances will begin at 8 p.m. in the Henderson Auditorium of the Rainey Fine Arts Center. 

Tickets for general admission are $10 and $5 for faculty, staff and students (only available to purchase at the box office).

Tickets are available to reserve in person, , or by phone on March 22, 2022 starting at 9am EST. All ticket requests, whether in person or by phone, will be combined and processed in chronological order.

Please call the Box Office at 864-231-2080 for more information and tickets.

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On Wednesday, February 16, family and friends of 91福利社 gathered at Henderson Auditorium in the Rainey Fine Arts Center to celebrate Founders Day and commemorate the 111th anniversary of the University鈥檚 founding. 

Founders Day was created to honor the visionary Anderson area leaders whose desire for a college in Anderson and generous support led to the establishment of what is now 91福利社. Since Dr. Annie Dove Denmark, the fifth president of 91福利社, ushered in the first Founders Day in 1929, Founders Day has been the premier event honoring a great heritage while anticipating a bright future. 

During the ceremony, 91福利社 recognized the following outstanding graduates with awards: 

Dr. Justin Lewis, an internal medicine specialist at AnMed Health and 2013 honors graduate, received the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award. The award is presented to alumni no older than 40 who exemplify in life the educational philosophy of 91福利社. While at Anderson, Lewis was the first biology student to perform cancer research in the Center for Cancer Research and helped organize the university鈥檚 inaugural Cancer Summit. In 2018 he earned his doctor of medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. He then went on to complete a successful residency at UF Health in Gainesville, Florida. Dr. Lewis has been honored with many awards, including Resident of the Month, Outstanding Ambulatory Resident for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, and the 2021 Timothy H. Smith Memorial Award for Excellence in Ambulatory Internal Medicine. He also happens to be the cousin of the late actor Chadwick Boseman, whose mother attended Founders Day festivities along with other members of Dr. Lewis鈥� family. 

Scott Cline, president of Cline Hose & Hydraulics and a 1994 graduate, received the Alumni Achievement Award. The award is presented to alumni for significant achievements in his/her professional career. Scott and his brother Glenn represent the third generation of Cline Hose & Hydraulics, which was started by their grandfather in 1948. Cline oversaw the expansion of his family’s company to a second location in Augusta, Georgia in 2018. He attributes much of his success in business and in life to the influences he encountered as an Anderson student. Cline also credits Anderson with his spiritual growth, as he seeks to be a servant leader. Outside of his job, Cline lends his efforts to several Upstate civic and charitable organizations. A licensed pilot, Cline flies mercy medical missions for Angel Flight. During the Founders Day Banquet, Cline expressed his gratitude to Anderson for taking a chance on him.

Frank Alexander, a realtor, radio commentator and a 1968 graduate, received the Alumni Service Award. The award is presented to alumni for their outstanding and unselfish service to their alma mater, community and to humanity. Alexander had a successful career with the Dial Corporation and is currently a Realtor with The Agent Owned Realty. Over the years, Alexander has assisted 91福利社 with procuring much needed building space. A sports enthusiast, he provides color commentary of T.L. Hanna High School sports on a local radio station. He also has voiced play-by-play for Trojan basketball games video streams. An avid photographer, Alexander spent many years doing freelance photography for the Clemson Tigers, the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons. He also serves as a photographer and greeter at Concord Baptist Church in Anderson. Alexander has served as a member of the 91福利社 Alumni Board of Directors. He also taught a Bible study for Haven of Rest Ministries and is an active member of the Anderson Lions Club. 

Nancy Simpson, who directed 91福利社 athletics for eight years, received the honorary title of Vice President of Athletics Emeritus. During her tenure, Simpson guided Anderson鈥檚 seamless transition into the South Atlantic Conference. After Simpson鈥檚 arrival on campus in 2007, facility upgrades and the growth of the program were a priority. With the university鈥檚 purchase of the former Anderson County Fairgrounds (now the Athletic Campus), the department embarked on developing a premier venue for both student-athletes and fans. Simpson also focused her energies on expanding the Trojan Club to help build community support for AU student-athletes, as well as additional funding for all programs. Simpson has been actively involved in 91福利社 and has served on boards and in various community leadership roles. Simpson has served on many committees within the NCAA and also as the Division II representative to the NCAA/NBTA Committee. She was also inducted into the Cal State San Bernardino Hall of Fame in 2015. Simpson and her husband also gave the first gift toward the development of Spero Financial Field on the Athletic Campus.

The speaker for Founders Day was Dr. Gene C. Fant Jr., the eighth president of North Greenville University, a sister institution also affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. In addition to being a veteran educator of 35 years, Dr. Fant has ancestral roots in the Anderson area going back 200 years, including Rufus Fant, who was part of a community group that called for the establishment of what is now 91福利社. 

Referring to scripture in Ecclesiastes and writings of C.T. Studd, a missionary to the Far East, Fant challenged students to seek Christ as they set their life goals.

鈥�91福利社 is a part of God鈥檚 plan and God鈥檚 purposes, and today we celebrate the history and the legacy of those giants who have gone before us, and one day if we do our work for Christ and for God鈥檚 glory, who knows how another generation might celebrate even you and your legacy, but more importantly, maybe one day you鈥檒l stand before God and hear the words 鈥榃ell done, good and faithful servant,’鈥� Dr. Fant said.

Following the Convocation service, all award recipients and their families enjoyed a banquet where President Evans Whitaker presented Dr. Fant with an antique map of Anderson County. There was also a Golden Anchor luncheon, attended by Anderson alumni who graduated 50 years ago or before.

Additional Founders Day attendees included members of the 91福利社 Board of Trust, friends of 91福利社, and various community leaders, including Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts.

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An 91福利社 professor has written a new play inspired by his experiences as the son of missionaries in Vietnam. Although the play is fiction, it is grounded in his emotional reality and the timeline of events in Vietnam.

鈥�Of Angels and Dragons,鈥� written by Professor Robert Homer-Drummond and directed by Diane Lee, premieres Friday, January 17 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Two performances are scheduled for Saturday, January 18, at both 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and a final matinee is on Sunday, January 19 at 3 p.m. All shows are at Belk Theatre, inside the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91福利社鈥檚 Rainey Fine Arts Center.

鈥淥f Angels and Dragons鈥� follows Sean, a middle-aged professor. Haunted by the death of his missionary grandfather, he returns to the country of his birth, Vietnam. Throughout his journey, Sean discovers the impact that the Vietnam War had on both sides, citizens and soldiers alike. 

Based on the Professor Homer-Drummond鈥檚 own life and the lives of other missionaries and Vietnam veterans, 鈥淥f Angels and Dragons鈥� delves into deeper topics such as PTSD, the horrors of war and the healing power of forgiveness. Professor Homer-Drummond was born in Vietnam, and his grandfather was killed during the Tet offensive in 1968, a turning point in the conflict. His parents were missionaries there for 10 years before serving in other countries such as Cambodia and Indonesia before their retirement. Driven to tell this story, professor Homer-Drummond took a trip with 91福利社 students to Vietnam for inspiration to complete 鈥淥f Angels and Dragons.鈥� Dr. Jo-Carol Mitchell Rogers, AU art professor, also accompanied the students to Vietnam and served as the production鈥檚 set designer.  

The story features two Vietnamese actors, who will be speaking Vietnamese with English translations available, along with other professional actors and 91福利社 students. This play provides an authentic portrayal of the culture that it embraces. 

鈥淭he play delves into the difficulties of war and how affects individual people,鈥� said Lee, 鈥渘ot just those who are directly involved with the war, but also their families, their friends鈥oth countries with how they look at the situation and that it spreads throughout families, personalities, and situations.鈥�

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