Eddie Shannon’s nearly half century of South Carolina higher education advocacy was celebrated by SCICU leadership, trustees, family, friends, and meeting sponsors at the Oct. 10, 2023 board of trustees luncheon hosted by Anderson University in their new Trojan Field House.
During his 15 years at SCICU, Shannon raised more than $5.8 million for SCICU member institutions and their students, funding programs including the SCICU Scholars Program, the SCICU Lifeline Grants, and the SCICU Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program. He also developed the SCICU Business Partners Program, a concept that has been copied and implemented by many higher education advocacy groups in other states.
“We are deeply grateful for everything Eddie accomplished in his 15 years as executive vice president at SCICU,” said Jeff Perez, SCICU president and CEO. “His entire career focused on making college more accessible and affordable for South Carolinians. Because of Eddie’s advocacy, generations of students who may not have been able to realize their dream of a college education were able to attend the independent institution in South Carolina that best met their needs, thus setting them on a course for lifetime success.”
Prior to joining the SCICU team in 2008, Shannon served 28 years as executive director of the S.C. Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission. Under his leadership, the commission awarded a total of $606,578,787 in tuition grants to 267,212 students who chose to stay in South Carolina and attend independent colleges and universities.
The SCICU resolution presented to Shannon at the board luncheon highlights the many accomplishments during his storied higher education advocacy career.
SCICU thanks Anderson University President Evans Whitaker, his leadership team, and AVI Foodsystems for hosting a wonderful board luncheon. SCICU also thanks the following meeting sponsors:
- Allegiance Industries
- AVI Foodsystems
- Cantey Tech Solutions
- CapinCrouse
- Craig Gaulden Davis Architecture
- Forvis
- GMK Associates
- McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture
- Sodexo
- South Carolina Student Loan Corporation
- Total Comfort Solutions
- Trane
- Varsity Health
- Wyche, P.A.