News and Events

Sporting notes, compiled while wondering if Charleston RiverDogs "switch-pitcher" Pat Venditte eventually will become the ultimate politician:

--Karl Malone and John Stockton excelled as basketball pick-and-roll artists but Buzz Peterson and Ed Conroy are not far behind. Did you see how Conroy's buddy Buzz said "no" to Appalachian State until Conroy essentially got a new deal at The Citadel? Now that's teamwork.

--Great news for The Citadel, which almost took too long to re-up Conroy.

Two sport standout Kinard Gadsden-Gilliard (6-6 240) of Georgetown plans to focus on basketball in college and has signed with Roane State JC in Tennessee where he will be coached by former Citadel player and coach Randy Nesbit.

The Great Depression: Viewing and Discussion Series. May 5 at 2 p.m. Final program in this seven-part video and lecture program, examining the event that dominated American society for a decade. This week's video is "Arsenal of Democracy" with lecture and discussion led by scholar Dr. John B. Bonds from The Citadel's history department

Citadel speaker - State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex will deliver the commencement address to The Citadel Graduate College's Class of 2009 at 2 p.m. May 10 in McAlister Field House. More than 250 students will receive degrees from the 19 evening graduate programs, three evening undergraduate programs and two graduate certificate programs.

Participants raise funds for cancer programs -  --Medical University of South Carolina: MUSC ReSurge, MUSC Dragon Assets, MUSC Team Citadel Marine Boot Camp, Huff the Magic Dragons.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Members of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation are invited to a drop-in Friday at Riley Park in Suite 407. The Citadel Brigadier Foundation will have the suite available from 4-6 p.m. and head coach Fred Jordan will be stopping by before the game around 5:15 p.m. to speak to the group.

- Coming Up This Weekend - The Citadel hosts the first Southern Conference “Battle of the Bulldogs” as SoCon newcomer Samford comes to Charleston to visit The Citadel and Joe Riley Park. This weekend’s series will be the first meeting between the two teams and this season marks Samford’s first year in the Southern Conference. Bulldog Insider at CitadelSports.com will carry live video of all three games.

Charleston, S.C. – A total of 12 cadet-student-athletes where named to the Southern Conference 2008-09 Winter Academic All-Conference team, announced Thursday by the SoCon. A total of 160 student-athletes, representing 12 Southern Conference institutions, were named to the team.

Charleston, S.C. – The Citadel Rifle and head coach William Smith released their 2009-10 schedule on Thursday. Highlighting the schedule are fall visits by North Carolina, Ole Miss and Texas Christian to The Citadel Inouye Hall Marksmanship Center on The Citadel’s campus.

Saying that he and Citadel brass are "on the same page," Bulldogs basketball coach Ed Conroy announced Tuesday that he will be staying at his alma mater.  "This is where my heart is," said Conroy, who had been contacted and interviewed by Appalachian State in that school's search for a new coach.

Jamel Brown won the 110- meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.61 seconds as The Citadel oncluded the SoCon track and field championships in Statesboro, Ga., on Sunday. The Bulldogs men finished third with 70 points, while the women had 27 points for eighth place.

Jacksonville, Fla.-area standouts Bradley Goodson and Michael Clevinger signed national letters of intent to play baseball at The Citadel and will join the Bulldogs for the 2010 season.  Goodson, a shortstop at Providence High School, was recently named the FHSAA District 2A Player of the Year. Goodson hit over .330 in his high school career.

Akron, Ohio – The Citadel Wrestling Program was represented by five of its grapplers at the ASICS University & FILA Cadet National Championships, held this past weekend in Akron, Ohio at the Louis and Freda Stile Athletic Field House at the University of Akron. Richard Alarcon, Keith Koziel, J.C. Oddo, Manuel Camargo and Ivan Muller wrestled for The Citadel at the highly competitive event. The tournament hosts grapplers from around the nation competing in Olympic style wrestling.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel baseball program announced Wednesday that Saturday’s game against Samford has been moved to a 3 p.m. start in order to accommodate cadet-student-athlete exam schedules. The school is in the middle of exam week for all cadets. Saturday’s game is also a doubleheader with the Charleston RiverDogs and ticket bearers for either game will be admitted for both games.

Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., will give the commencement address to the Corps of Cadets Class of 2009 on May 9 at The Citadel.  Spratt, who represents the Fifth Congressional District of South Carolina, has served in the U.S. Congress since 1982. He is chairman of the Budget Committee and the second-ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.

Road games at North Carolina and Texas are among the highlights of Michigan State's men's basketball schedule in 2009-10.  ... This fall's trip could be at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. MSU signed a three-for-one agreement with the school.

Dozens of Citadel students raucously celebrating their transformation from knobs to cadets Saturday night at two Isle of Palm beach houses were charged with underage possession of alcohol.  Isle of Palms police charged 48 people, most of them Citadel students, in connection with the house parties celebrating Recognition Day.

The Honorable John M. Spratt, United States representative for the Fifth Congressional District of South Carolina, will deliver the commencement address to the South Carolina Corps of Cadets Class of 2009.  The Corps of Cadets commencement begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2009 in McAlister Field House.

Citadel basketball coach Ed Conroy, courted the last several weeks by Appalachian State, said today that he will remain with the Bulldogs.  Conroy met this morning with Citadel president Lt. Gen. John Rosa.

U.S. Rep. John M. Spratt, D-S.C., will deliver the commencement address next month to The Citadel's South Carolina Corps of Cadets Class of 2009.  The commencement begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9 in McAlister Field House.  Spratt was first elected to the Congress in 1982. He is chairman of the Budget Committee and is the second-ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.

sle of Palms police arrested nearly 50 people, most of them Citadel cadets, for underage drinking this weekend after breaking up two parties celebrating the knobs’ completion of their freshman year.  Officers ticketed 11 people at the first party and 37 at the second, Lt. Raymond Wright told The Post and Courier this morning. The people responsible for renting both houses are charged with violating the noise ordinance and exceeding the occupation limits for the houses, he said.

Wes Wrenn led by word and deed this weekend.  The Citadel's senior pitcher set the tone Friday night with an eight-inning gem against Georgia Southern, then fired up fellow senior Matt Crim before the rubber game of the series Sunday.

At The Citadel's basketball awards banquet Thursday night, school president Lt. Gen. John Rosa stood at the podium to address the crowd at the Holliday Alumni Center. He talked about Bulldogs coach Ed Conroy and all he has accomplished and said, "You'll always be a Bulldog."  Those words caused a sense of unease in some Citadel fans who want Conroy to remain a Bulldog in fact, and not just in spirit.

The first serious flu outbreak in South Carolina in 1918 came in the spring.  It was at Camp Sevier in Greenville, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. By summer it was over.  Worse was to come. ... By Oct. 18, the count was 30,000 cases. Hospitals in Columbia were swamped.

• Patients were taken to the University of South Carolina's infirmary and gym and Woodrow Hall.
• USC classes were suspended.
• Winthrop, Converse and Greenville Women's colleges were placed under quarantine.
• The Citadel was closed, the cadets sent home.

Wes Wrenn led by word and deed this weekend.  The Citadel's senior pitcher set the tone Friday night with an eight-inning gem against Georgia Southern, then fired up fellow senior Matt Crim before the rubber game of the series Sunday.

ED CONROY BASKETBALL CAMPS AT THE CITADEL

BOB WINCH'S CHARLESTON SOCCER TRAINING CENTERS AT THE CITADEL

YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP AT THE CITADEL

SKILL ACADEMY AND LINEMAN ACADEMY AT THE CITADEL

FUNDAMENTALS OF BASEBALL CAMP

QUARTERBACK AND RECEIVER ACADEMY

They built in harm's way.  That's what two of the state's top forest experts said of the sprawling subdivisions west of Myrtle Beach where one of the largest wildfires in state history destroyed or damaged some 170 homes this week and continues to threaten hundreds more. ... Richard Porcher, a botanist, author and professor emeritus of biology at The Citadel, said that without periodic controlled burns, pine forests build up a tremendous amount of fuel and a catastrophic wildfire can erupt. It's the way they've been throughout history, long before humans built into the forests, he said.

South Carolina slashed funding to public colleges and universities by more than 25 percent this year — likely the largest decline in the nation.  Last month, a group of presidents traveled to the Statehouse to plead their case. The Senate will continue budget deliberations Tuesday when the Legislature reconvenes.

A Citadel freshman, known as a knob, was beaten in a hazing incident by a senior. The victim did not immediately report the attack, but two days later collapsed in the shower and was taken to the hospital.  The school says the victim had been ordered to do push-ups, then was kicked by the upperclassmen. A school spokesperson said the upperclassman could be expelled, and the victim could file criminal charges.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A freshman at The Citadel was hospitalized after he was beaten by a classmate at the military college during a hazing incident, school officials said.  The freshman had been ordered to do push-ups Tuesday night and the upperclassman began kicking and hitting him until other students pulled him off, the school said.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A freshman at The Citadel was hospitalized after he was beaten by a classmate at the military college during a hazing incident, school officials said.  The freshman had been ordered to do push-ups Tuesday night and the upperclassman began kicking and hitting him until other students pulled him off, the school said.

A Citadel knob is in a local hospital after he was assaulted by an upperclassman during a hazing incident at the military college this week, school officials said.  The alleged attack occurred Tuesday night after the freshman was ordered to do push-ups. While he was down, a cadet kicked and hit the victim until other members of the Corps of Cadets jumped in to stop it, officials said.

Wes Wrenn struck out eight batters in eight innings Friday night and shut down a potent Eagles offense as The Citadel topped Georgia Southern, 6-2, in front of 925 fans at Riley Park.  Down 2-1, The Citadel (24-16, 11-8 SoCon) broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning rally and added another run in the seventh. Georgia Southern (29-10, 12-5 SoCon) was only able to score two runs in the third inning as their six-game winning streak came to a halt.

That Bryan Altman could hit a baseball has always been apparent. The kid from Summerville High School rocketed out of the gate as a Citadel freshman two years ago, hitting safely in 11 of his first 12 games and slugging a three-run home run in his sixth college game, a 7-6 victory over then No. 1-ranked South Carolina.

He's only a junior in high school, but Bryce Hines has already contemplated what life will be like when he enrolls at The Citadel.  "The first eight days, they call it Hell Week," said Hines, a talented pitcher for the Hanahan Hawks. "I'm not looking forward to that. But I'm sure everything will be all right after that."  Hines isn't going to let eight days stand between him and a promising future. He knows the military college combines academics, physical challenges and military discipline. It rewards its students with a class ring and a degree that can open doors for a lifetime.

This month's edition...

Elon, N.C. – The Citadel tennis team wrapped up their 2009 season falling to Appalachian State, 4-0, at the 2009 Southern Conference Tennis Championships in Elon, N.C. on Thursday afternoon.

- Coming Up This Weekend - The Citadel returns home for a Southern Conference series for the first time in three weeks as the Bulldogs host Georgia Southern beginning Friday night. The Eagles enter the weekend riding a six-game winning streak. The Citadel Sports Network will broadcast the games on Saturday and Sunday, with Darren Goldwater calling the play-by-play.

FRIDAY  - Art show at Alchemy Coffee - Writer-turned-painter Joan Alden is the featured artist at Alchemy Coffee Shop with an opening party from 6-9 Friday. Wine and light appetizers will be served.  Joan has written three novels and a children's book. She teaches part time at The Citadel as an adjunct professor. Her works include photographic mixed-medium paintings along with four mixed-media clay and oil.

Imagine a little robot that rolls around after a tailgate party, scooping up soda bottles and cans with its metal arms and sorting them into separate compartments for recycling.  A group of Citadel students demonstrated a couple of prototypes Wednesday. One robot senses the difference between cans and bottles, while the other scoops them up a ramp into separate bags. The recycling robots were two of the concepts presented at the 2009 Citadel Electrical Engineering Design Symposium. The students explained their creations with a Powerpoint presentation in Grimsley Hall, but several demonstrated them in the lab before the show.

CHARLESTON — Selma Dakken Eykyn, 92, died Sunday, April 19, 2009, in Galloway Township, New Jersey. Born in Pekin, North Dakota, in 1916, she was the daughter of Gilbert and Ida Dakken and the wife of the late Col. Richard G. Eykyn, USMC (Ret), The Citadel Class of 1981.

ROCK HILL — Richard Jones and Chris McGuiness each homered twice as The Citadel defeated Winthrop, 16-11, in front of 666 at Winthrop Ballpark.  The Bulldogs (23-16) led 14-3 after seven innings and weathered a late rally by Winthrop (25-16).

Charleston, S.C. – The Citadel signed Madison Marie Wallender to join the Bulldog program starting in the fall of 2009, announced Thursday by head coach Lori Bonacci.  Wallender is a 2009 senior at Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, Texas, where she has earned four letters in golf. She is a four-year Academic All-District recipient and a member of Who’s Who Among American High School Students. She is ranked 22 of 649 in her senior class.

Richard Jones and Chris McGuiness each homered twice to lead The Citadel to a 16-11 win over Winthrop.  Jones was 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs while McGuiness was 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs.  Winthrop (25-16) rallied for six runs in the ninth inning but fell short for its fifth loss in its last six games. The skid began with a 20-4 loss at North Carolina. The Eagles dropped all three games at Liberty over the weekend, then defeated Charlotte, 7-2, on Tuesday.

April 27 at 2 p.m. The sixth of a seven-part video and lecture program that examines the event which dominated American society for a full decade, changing the way we looked at ourselves, our government and the country. This week's video is "To Be Somebody" with lecture and discussion led by scholar Dr. John B. Bonds from the Citadel's history department.

The search for a new commandant at The Citadel moves into the final round with a local figure in the running.  Army Col. Richard C. Townes, commanding officer of the college's Army ROTC unit, is one of three finalists announced Tuesday.  His competitors are:

-- Marine Col. Leo A. Mercado, secretary of the general staff at Marine Corps headquarters in Arlington, Va.

-- Marine Col. David J. Mollahan, director of the division of Humanities and Social Sciences at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Appalachian State will interview Citadel basketball coach Ed Conroy for its vacant head-coaching job, according to published reports.  Conroy will interview for the job, along with Missouri assistant Melvin Watkins and Wake Forest assistant Pat Kelsey, FOXSports.com's senior college basketball writer, Jeff Goodman, reported on his blog Tuesday. A story in today's Winston-Salem Journal cited the same three names.

The Charleston County Council has backed away from a plan to disproportionately cut funding to the city of Charleston for tourism-related activities as part of an effort to cover a large shortfall in accommodations tax money.  The council plans to decide at a future meeting the amount it will cut funding for municipalities where the tax is collected, and for the College of Charleston and The Citadel. But it reaffirmed Tuesday a decision to eliminate funding for arts and cultural organizations.

Frederick Lynwood Burroughs passed away peacefully Sunday, April 19, 2009. He is survived by a loving family: his wife of 60 years, Myra Duke Burroughs; his sons and their families: Frederick and his wife Debra, Richard, John and his fiancée Anne Marie, Greg and his wife Mia; and his grandsons Billy and David. He was a veteran of World War II and a 1950 graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

Three men, including two graduates of The Citadel, have been named finalists for commandant of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets.

The finalists are:

* Marine Col. Leo A. Mercado, Class of 1979, currently serving as Secretary of the General Staff, HQ, United States Marine Corps.
* Marine Col. David J. Mollahan, director of the division of Humanities and Social Sciences and senior Marine Corps representative at the U.S. Naval Academy.
* Army Col. Richard C. Townes, Class of 1983, commanding officer of the Army ROTC unit at The Citadel.

From small festivals and theaters to major cultural institutions and colleges, organizations that usually receive funding from Charleston County's accommodations tax are bracing for that money to be eliminated from the county's next budget. ... The Citadel would lose half of its funding for paying the debt on Johnson Hagood Stadium. The College of Charleston would not get extra money it had requested.

Charleston, S.C. – The 2009 Southern Conference Tennis Championships will be held at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center in Elon, N.C. on April 23-26. The Citadel is the #10 seed and will meet with #7 Appalachian State at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – A few hundred people gathered around the Windjammer in Isle of Palms on Sunday to be a part of the second annual beach volleyball tournament. Joining The Citadel in the competition were College of Charleston, Elon, Georgia Southern, UNC Greensboro and Wofford.

Three men are in the running to become The Citadel's next commandant.  The military college announced these finalists Tuesday:

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Graduates of The Citadel are sharing their World War II experiences as part of the college’s oral history project.  Four grads who served in the war will discuss their experiences during a forum Tuesday at the state military college. One of them is former Citadel president James Grimsley, who was awarded three Purple Hearts during a military career spanning more than three decades.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Graduates of The Citadel are sharing their World War II experiences as part of the college's oral history project.  Four grads who served in the war discuss their experiences during a Tuesday evening forum at the state military college. One of them is former Citadel president James Grimsley, who was awarded three Purple Hearts during a military career spanning more than three decades.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- Graduates of The Citadel are sharing their World War II experiences as part of the college's oral history project.  Four grads who served in the war discuss their experiences during a Tuesday evening forum at the state military college.  One of them is former Citadel president James Grimsley, who was awarded three Purple Hearts during a military career spanning more than three decades.

At about 3 p.m. last Saturday afternoon, senior men's tennis captain Damon Gooch blasted the ball past the right side of his opponent, clinching the final point and the game. ... Elon is hosting the SoCon Championships this year, with the matchups starting Thursday at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. Elon has a bye until Friday, when it takes on the winner of the No. 7 Appalachian State/No. 10 The Citadel at 1 p.m. at the Burlington Tennis Center.  The Phoenix upended Appalachian State 5-2 earlier in the month and defeated The Citadel 7-0 this past weekend.

Patriots Point executive director Hugh Tant has resigned from the job he began last year.  The Patriots Point Development Authority hired Tant, a retired Army brigadier general, in May. In an e-mail to staff members on Monday, Tant wrote that he wanted to spend more time with his family.  “Life on the earth is short,” Tant wrote. “There is much to see and experience. Having said that and realizing we have more runway behind us than in front of us, my wife and I have decided to spend more quality time together and with our grandchildren and our own grown children.”

The Outlaw Group is hosting a workshop for unemployed, underemployed or dissatisfied workers in Charleston next week at The Citadel's alumni center.  It will address such questions as “Are you pursuing a job or a career?” and “Are you sabotaging your career?” It will also focus on realistically assessing your strengths and attributes and discovering your own career fulfillment. ...

Hilton Head, S.C. – The Citadel Golf concluded the Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship in 10th place on Tuesday at the Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head, S.C. The Bulldogs totaled 1049 (+185) in the three-round tournament, improving 59 strokes from last season’s conference championship.

The Citadel's annual spring football game Saturday at Johnson Hagood Stadium was almost as notable for those who didn't play as for those who did.  Among the missing for the Bulldogs' offense were running backs Terrell Dallas and John Shaw, tight end Alex Sellars, wide receiver Alex Carr and backup quarterback Cam Turner — all injured and due back this summer or fall — and transfer tight end B.J. Phillips, a 6-5, 260-pounder from the University of North Carolina who will report in the fall.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Chris McGuiness went 3-for-4 with a run scored but the Bulldogs could not overcome an early 6-0 deficit as The Citadel lost the rubber game at UNC Greensboro, 12-4. The loss marked only the second Southern Conference series loss of the year for the Bulldogs.

Tuesday - World War II Talk: 7p.m., The Holiday alumni Center, 69 Hagood Ave., Charleston. Four Citadel alumni who served in combat during World War II will share their experiences...

NATIVE PLANTS: The Native Plant Society has two events scheduled for this week. On Tuesday, Dwight Williams, director and entomologist at Cypress Gardens, will lecture on "Butterfly Observations from Cypress Gardens." The free lecture begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Biology Auditorium, 101 Duckett Hall at The Citadel, with a reception to follow.

Jacksonville, Fla. – Aaron Overton won the high jump, Christopher Castagno won the hammer and Jodi Whittle broke The Citadel’s 400m hurdles record as the Bulldogs successfully competed in the North Florida Osprey Challenge on April 18 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.

Jacksonville, Fla. – Aaron Overton won the high jump, Christopher Castagno won the hammer and Jodi Whittle broke The Citadel’s 400m hurdles record as the Bulldogs successfully competed in the North Florida Osprey Challenge on April 18 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.

Hilton Head, S.C. – The Citadel Golf wrapped-up day two of the Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship in 10th place with a two-day total of 689 (+113) at the Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head, S.C.

Hilton Head, S.C. – The Citadel Golf concluded day one of the Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship in 10th place with a round one total of 354 (+66) on Sunday at the Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head, S.C.

ED CONROY BASKETBALL CAMPS AT THE CITADEL: Individual Skill Clinic At Porter-Gaud June 6; Father/Son Camp June 12-13; Day Camp I June 15-19; Post/Perimeter Shooting Camp June 20; Day Camp II June 22-26; High School Team Shootout June 27-28; Day Camp III July 13-17 and Bulldog Mini-camp At Park West Gym (Mt. Pleasant) Aug. 3-6. For Information call our camp hotline at 843-953-5905 or email andy.fox@citadel.edu. online registration and information also available at www.citadelsports.com.

YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP AT THE CITADEL: Youth football camp for ages 5-14 will be held on June 8-12 on the Citadel campus. Cost is $190. Additional $25 fee after May 30. Camp hours will be 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. and 9-11:30 a.m. on Friday. Any questions please contact citadel football office at (843)953-5123 or go to www.kevinhigginsfootball.com to register online on print out camp brochure.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Bryan Altman went 2-for-4 and Richard Jones hit his 11th home run of the season but four errors led to The Citadel's 8-3 loss to UNC Greensboro.  The Citadel (22-15, 10-7 SoCon) scored three runs on nine hits. UNC Greensboro (13-19, 3-12 SoCon) scored eight runs on nine hits for their third conference win of the season.

Even his closest confidants wondered why Harvey Schiller devoted his free time to return baseball to the Olympics. The task seems difficult to some, impossible to others, but everyone in Schiller’s elite circle said there was a catch. Impossible, they say, for anyone but him. ... With Schiller, three degrees of separation usually suffice. He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, learned football under Al Davis at the Citadel and wears dog tags that were given to him as a gift by George W. Bush.

Charleston Southern and The Citadel will hold their spring football games today.  CSU will host its Blue/Gold game at 11 a.m. at Buccaneer Field, with most improved awards at each position presented at halftime. The game is free and open to the public.  The Citadel's Blue and White game is set for 1 p.m. at Johnson Hagood Stadium, with gates open at noon. It also is free and open to the public.

Nick Longfield of England, a successful expert in this field as managing director of Ocean Marine Services Ltd., made a compelling case that this renewable source is well worth our consideration during a presentation Wednesday at the Clemson University Restoration Institute on the former Navy Base in North Charleston. ... Mr. Longfield, who also spoke to the Charleston Propeller Club Thursday at The Citadel, stressed Wednesday that offshore wind power is an idea whose time is coming to the United States: "It's going to happen." He further stressed that the states — and the businesses — getting a head start will reap major benefits, citing Denmark's offshore-wind leadership role in Europe: "Everybody relies on the Danes — almost too much."

Bob Hayes stepped down as head football coach at Wando High School on Friday.  Hayes, who coached the Warriors for nine years, will remain the school's athletic director.  Jimmy Noonan, who was hired as the Warriors' offensive coordinator last year, will replace Hayes as head football coach.  ... Noonan is a native of Sumter and a 1992 graduate of The Citadel, where he played fullback for the Bulldogs. He was a graduate assistant at The Citadel under Charlie Taaffe for two years before joining the coaching staff at Spring Valley High School in 1994.

Employee of the Year Clarissa "Lisa" Lugo of The Citadel Admissions Office will be recognized along with all Employee of the Year nominees during a reception today at 2:45 p.m. in the Reception Room of Mark Clark Hall. It is open to the campus and the public.  Lugo is a 2002 graduate of The Citadel. In November 2005 she was promoted from admissions counselor to one of three assistant directors working to recruit students. Her main responsibility is the recruitment of women and Hispanics to the South Carolina Corps of Cadets.

... The spending plan contains several stipulations that the Legislature must consider. Among them is requiring the adjutant general to pay back in the next year a $2.5 million loan for the new S.C. Army National Guard's Readiness Center at The Citadel, $2 million in matching funds for designation-specific advertising to promote tourism and restoring $200,000 for restoration of the Morris Island Lighthouse. ...

We'll probably never see a Citadel-College of Charleston basketball or baseball game where cadets and Cougars see eye-to-eye. But there are significant ways that those colleges, and others in the region, regularly cooperate with each other.  A two-year study of South Carolina's colleges listed collaboration among colleges as one way to improve higher education opportunities for students and reduce expenses.  The Legislature is weighing in on the subject of efficiency, too. Two bills aimed at streamlining administrative functions at colleges and technical colleges have been introduced in Columbia.

The Citadel baseball team brought its bats and its brooms to Carolina Stadium on Wednesday night.  With two runs in the 11th inning, the Bulldogs claimed a 5-3 victory over USC for a sweep of their two-game season series. The Citadel defeated the Gamecocks 12-5 earlier this year at Riley Park in Charleston. The wins mark the first time since 1961 the Bulldogs took a pair of games from USC in the same season.

The Great Depression: April 20 at 2 p.m. The fifth of a seven-part video and lecture program. The video is "Mean Things Happening" with a lecture and discussion led by scholar Dr. John B. Bonds of The Citadel's history department.

Trident Technical College history instructor Donald West received the Martin Luther King Jr. Outstanding and Distinguished Service Award from the Black History Intercollegiate Consortium.  West was chosen for the award by college students.  He was honored at the consortium's annual Martin Luther King Jr. program held at The Citadel.  The Black History Intercollegiate Consortium consists of representatives from Charleston Southern University, The Citadel, the Medical University of South Carolina and Trident Technical College.

A month into it, Appalachian State's search for a new basketball coach has taken more twists and turns than the mountain roads leading to the campus in Boone, N.C.  After turning down the job last week, former App State coach Buzz Peterson is again emerging as a candidate to replace Houston Fancher, dismissed on March 16.  Peterson's decision not to take the job last week had turned the spotlight toward Citadel coach Ed Conroy, who worked for Peterson as an assistant at Tulsa, Tennessee and Coastal Carolina.

The Citadel’s ROTC departments annually nominate their finest cadets and active duty students for awards recognizing academic and military excellence. This year’s award recipients were honored on Thursday, April 16, 2009 in McAlister Field House. ...

Richard Porcher, a Citadel professor who led a group of island residents through the forested areas of the accreted land recently, said it was by no means a pristine forest.  "That would take centuries and centuries," Porcher said.  A group called the Sullivan's Islanders that formed to preserve the island's beaches, maritime forest, historic homes and public structures sponsored the walk.

COLUMBIA — Regardless of what this Citadel baseball team does from here on out, it has made history in 2009.  With an extra-inning victory at Carolina Stadium on Wednesday night, the Bulldogs became the first Citadel team since 1961 to beat South Carolina twice in a season.  "It's good for our ballplayers," Citadel coach Fred Jordan said. "Every now and then, the underdog jumps up and does something. We're just glad to be part of it."

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Bryan Altman went 4-for-6 and TJ Clarkson struck out a career-high seven batters as The Citadel defeated South Carolina, 5-3, in 11 innings in front of 6,923 at Carolina Stadium Wednesday night. The win clinched the season series sweep over the Gamecocks, the first time The Citadel has swept South Carolina since 1961.

Charleston, S.C. – Bulldog tennis will travel to the top two SoCon teams beginning with UNC Greensboro on Friday, April 17 at 2 p.m. in Greensboro, N.C., at the UNCG Tennis Courts. Then on Saturday, April 18 at 12 p.m., The Citadel will close regular season play against the nationally ranked #61 Elon Phoenix at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center in Elon, N.C.

Danny Leonard and Drew Wessels, united in the cause to fight leukemia and other blood cancers, are biking nearly 2,800 miles from San Diego to Folly Beach in six weeks.  ... For the 24-year-old Wessels, whose grandfather died of myeloma in 2005, it's an opportunity to help raise money for the society and to do something that most people with a job and family responsibilities can't do. Wessels graduated from The Citadel business school in December and, like many Americans these days, is looking for a job.

ELLOREE – An Elloree woman has been recognized as one of those special South Carolinians whose contributions to their communities are unusually meaningful.  Sarah Ann Funchess Parler of Elloree last month received the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian award for service. ... She was an active participant in placing Blue Star Markers in different areas of the state, including The Citadel and The Methodist Oaks, to honor and in memory of U.S. Armed Forces.

Charleston, S.C. – The Citadel Football was back on the gridiron for the first time this week on Tuesday, March 14 for a two-and-a-half hour practice at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility at Willson Field.

The Citadel athletic director Larry Leckonby has met with basketball coach Ed Conroy to discuss a raise and contract extension, Leckonby confirmed Monday.  "We want Ed Conroy to be the Bulldogs basketball coach for a long time," Leckonby said.

The Citadel's baseball game against Charleston Southern at Riley Park, a matchup added to the schedule a few weeks ago, was postponed due to inclement weather on Monday night.  The game will be made up at a date to be announced.

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Richard Jones tied a school record by hitting three home runs in The Citadel’s 12-5 Southern Conference baseball victory over Davidson on Sunday at Wilson Field. Jones, the former Wilson Hall and Sumter American Legion P-15’s standout, matched the record performance of three home runs Garrick Haltiwanger notched against Coastal Carolina on March 3, 1994.

State colleges and universities are tracking two giant unknowns as they look to set tuition rates for the 2009-10 school year.  Historically, tuition rates increase annually. In-state tuition rates and fees for four-year public institutions have increased more than 35 percent during the past five years. Whether the trend will continue this year remains to be seen.  "This year things are a little more complicated," said Charlene Gunnells, media relations coordinator for The Citadel. "We're dealing with more variables than in the past."

Cadets John Taylor Marcus and Julius Grady Siler, both seniors from Greenville, have claimed two of 50 English teaching assistantships awarded to U.S. citizens by the French Ministry of Education for the 2009-2010 academic year.  "These are The Citadel's first French government English teaching assistantships," said Office of Fellowships Director Al Gurganus said. "To score a double in our first outing is special indeed."

It's part of The Citadel experience in a way: Every graduate of the military college's respected engineering department who wanted a job in that field had one locked up months before they got their sheepskin.  That is, until this year.

James M. McQuilla, chief executive officer of Professional Buyers Advantage LLC, has been named to the Board of Visitors of The Citadel. He graduated from The Citadel in 1988 and later was an admissions counselor at the school.

Cadet Kate Hardina was relaxing at the beach with friends when news from home caused her to think twice about how she planned to spend her spring break.  The sophomore from Fargo, N.D., was increasingly worried about the rising Red River. The 550-mile North flowing river winds around her family’s neighborhood. Heavy rains and rising water threatened to flood hundreds of people, including her parents, out of their homes.

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Richard Jones tied a school record with three home runs as The Citadel powered its way past Davidson to claim the Southern Conference series with a 12-5 win in front of 336 at Wilson Field.

Citadel Regimental Band: 6:45 p.m. in McAlister Field House. The Citadel's Regimental Band and Pipes will perform its annual spring concert. The concert is free and open to the public.

When Ellen Pfeiffer was contacted by the national headquarters of the Women in Defense organization to start a chapter in Charleston, she put it on the back burner, knowing the timing wasn’t right for her. But she gained some footing at her new position starting an S.C. branch of SGIS, a defense contracting company based in San Diego. ... “A lot of these gentlemen have worked together. Either they’ve been in the military together or they’re in the contractor community together; a lot of them went to The Citadel together, so they have a 30-year relationship,” Pfeiffer said. “That can’t help but be a disadvantage” for women.

Angie Ping has been promoted to senior development officer at The Citadel Foundation. Also, Rob Stephenson has been named director of annual giving, Beth Inman has been named director of development support, and Leigh Lipscomb has been named full-time grant writer

NICEVILLE - Rachael Farrell isn't one to shy away from a challenge.  So when it came time to make her college choice, Farrell selected an institute of higher learning that demands excellence seemingly 24 hours a day every day. Luckily, excelling is just about all Farrell's ever done on a volleyball court, so she's got that aspect down pat.  Farrell, who is a senior at the Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College and was an All-Area performer for Niceville High, will play volleyball for The Citadel, a military college.

STIMULUS-SANFORD: House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Monday that Gov. Mark Sanford's opposition to $700 million in federal stimulus cash for schools and public safety just shows the governor's animosity toward public education. "He is anti-public education. That's all this is," Clyburn, D-S.C., told reporters before a speech at The Citadel.

It’s part of The Citadel experience in a way: Every graduate of the military college’s respected engineering department who wanted a job in that field had one locked up months before they got their sheepskin.  That is, until this year.  Three senior cadets who are among the department’s best and brightest still have not been able to secure employment in their chosen field because of the construction industry downturn, said Timothy Mays, structural engineering professor.

DAVIDSON, N.C. - Kyle Jordan went 3-for-6 with four RBIs and two runs scored as The Citadel offense dominated in a 20-6 win over Davidson in the first game of a doubleheader at Wilson Field Saturday afternoon.  Jordan hit his first his first home run of the year has he finished the game a triple shy of the cycle in his three-hit, four-RBI performance.

This state's best-know government watchdog, retired Greenville businessman Edward D. (Ned) Sloan Jr., isn't calling it quits — not yet anyway. But he has been looking for fresh blood for his private non-profit foundation. He's found a real heavyweight. ... Until the foundation was established, Sloan, a Citadel graduate, was bearing all the financial load of challenging S.C. governments at all levels when he felt they weren't following state law or adhering to the state constitution.

Appalachian State has contacted Citadel basketball coach Ed Conroy about the Mountaineers' vacant head coaching position, a source confirmed to The Post and Courier Friday.  Conroy, 41, led the Bulldogs to their first postseason appearance in school history this past season.

The cutline reads, "From left are Bob Sverna, Phyllis Sberna and Latoyya Jones."

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Citadel is looking for a new commandant - the administrator responsible for overseeing the college's almost 2,000 cadets.  Retired Army Col. Greg Stone, who held the job for four years, plans to step down from his post at the military college in Charleston next month. He and his wife want to return to his home town of Seattle.  Stone told The Post and Courier of Charleston that he hopes to work in leadership development in the private sector.

CHARLESTON, S.C. The Citadel is looking for a new commandant - the administrator responsible for overseeing the college's almost 2,000 cadets.  Retired Army Col. Greg Stone, who held the job for four years, plans to step down from his post at the military college in Charleston next month. He and his wife want to return to his home town of Seattle

CHARLESTON -- The Citadel is looking for a new commandant -- the administrator responsible for overseeing the college's almost 2,000 cadets.  Retired Army Col. Greg Stone, who held the job for four years, plans to step down from his post at the military college in Charleston next month. He and his wife want to return to his home town of Seattle. Stone told The Post and Courier of Charleston that he hopes to work in leadership development in the private sector.

After four years serving as The Citadel's commandant, retired Army Col. Greg Stone plans to step down at the end of May.  "It is not a sad thing, not a bad thing," Stone said. "It is a personal time in the Stone family."  Stone and his wife plan to return to his hometown of Seattle, where he hopes to work in the private sector in organizational or leadership development.

The Citadel's Drew Mahaffey, who went 1-0 with four saves in eight appearances, was named the Southern Conference baseball pitcher of the month for March. Mahaffey had 28 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings and held batters to a .160 average.

CHARLOTTE — In an effort to reduce costs and bring more excitement to the nation's longest running college basketball tournament, the Southern Conference is returning to Charlotte next year for the first time since 1971.  But the success of the event may depend on the NBA decision of Davidson star Stephen Curry.

Citadel employees have elected new Staff Council members and officers for the upcoming year.  Katie Gibson from The Citadel Graduate College replaces Casey Behrendt from The Citadel Alumni Association as chairman. Paul Cantrell from the Physical Plant was re-elected vice chairman and Gayle McCaffrey from the Physical Plant was re-elected secretary.  The mission of the staff council is to provide a forum for Citadel employees to present issues and discuss concerns that impact the quality of the work environment.

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority on April 4 began an experimental change in its James Island route. On weekends in April, May, August and September, bus Route 31 will link downtown Charleston with Folly Beach. As it stands now, the bus won't make the Folly Beach connection in June or July, when most college students are away for the summer. ... The route is not only for College of Charleston students, he said, but for anyone who needs transportation between downtown and Folly. He said Citadel cadets and the Medical University of South Carolina are being contacted about the service.

Four Citadel alumni who served in combat during World War II will share their experiences with the Charleston community as part of The Citadel Alumni World War II Oral History Project.  The event begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at the Holliday Alumni Center, 69 Hagood Ave. The moderator will be Citadel Fellow Jack Bass, director of Alumni World War II Oral History Project, the first initiative of The Citadel Oral History Program.

The Great Depression: April 13 at 2 p.m. The fourth of a seven-part video and lecture program that examines the event that dominated American society for a full decade. This week's video is "We Have a Plan" with lecture and discussion led by scholar Dr. John B. Bonds from the Citadel's history department.

The Citadel's Regimental Band and Pipes will perform its annual spring concert at 6:45 p.m. April 14 in McAlister Field House on the school's campus. The concert is free and open to the public

Hats off to Dr. Jack Bass, visiting fellow in The Citadel's History Department, for his penetrating analysis of Gov. Mark Sanford's latest "slogan of the month" ("Sanford's stimulus message falls flat with S.C. voters," March 30). The governor's refrain about accepting stimulus money only if it can be used to reduce state debt seems to be a pipe dream.

The Shako, the literary magazine of The Citadel, has selected two cadets as the winners of its third annual creative writing awards that are named in honor of Citadel graduates and authors Pat Conroy and Robert Jordan.

MOUNT PLEASANT — On the whiteboard in the College of Charleston dugout Tuesday night, Cougars coach Monte Lee scrawled goals such as "leadoff runner on every inning" and "compete with two strikes."  He didn't write "smash home runs," but the Cougars did anyway. With the wind at Patriots Point Field blowing straight out to right field, Charleston blasted four homers — all to right and two by Joey Bergman — en route to a 21-8 pasting of rival The Citadel.

The Citadel's Chris McGuiness, who homered four times in a 7-for-15 week at the plate, was named Southern Conference baseball player of the week.  McGuiness, a junior first baseman out of James Island High School, batted .467 while being walked six times and getting hit by a pitch once. He hit two homers in the Bulldogs' 13-3 win over Wofford on Friday.

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex will deliver the commencement address to The Citadel Graduate College’s Class of 2009 at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 10 in McAlister Field House.  More than 250 students will receive degrees this year from the CGC, which offers 19 evening graduate programs, three evening undergraduate programs and two graduate certificate programs.

Last season, Citadel football coach Kevin Higgins asked for a second wide receiver to step up alongside All-American Andre Roberts.  It never really happened, as Roberts finished the season with 95 catches, nearly three times as many as the Bulldogs' second-leading receiver.  But this spring, rising sophomore Kevin Hardy is making a case for himself as Roberts' running mate. Boosted by the Southern Conference long jump title he won in February, the speedy 6-0, 175-pounder has been working with the first-team offense during spring practice.

Lexington County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard A. Jacob recently distinguished himself among the state’s most promising law enforcement officers.  The 27-year-old Jacob received the J.P. Strom Award as the top student in the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy’s basic law enforcement officer training class.  Jacob had the highest cumulative point total for all written tests in the nine-week training session, which is offered several times a year.

They will laugh as two goofballs in padded sumo costumes try to belly-butt one another to the ground, clap to the beat of an old John Fogerty tune. Kids will play in a jump castle, Citadel cadets will sit with perfect posture and couples will snuggle in the right-field seats.

Tonight's 6 p.m. game with The Citadel at Patriots Point Field won't count in the SoCon — the Bulldogs will host a three-game series next month to settle that score — but could go a long way toward restoring the Cougars' confidence.

Mr. Lawrence Derrick "Larry" Connor Junior passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina after a four-week critical illness.  ... The funeral service will be conducted at The Church of the Holy Comforter on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. by Rev. David Williams and Rev. Rod Reinecke. Burial will follow in the church memorial garden. The family will receive friends at the Rich & Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Burlington on Tuesday from 6 until 8:30 p.m.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Monday that Gov. Mark Sanford's opposition to $700 million in federal stimulus cash for schools and public safety just shows the governor's animosity toward public education.  "He is anti-public education. That's all this is," Clyburn, D-S.C., told reporters before a speech at The Citadel. "He will do anything he possibly can to destroy public education."

Students from Dana Alls' class at Riverside Middle School recently traveled to Charleston to participate in South Carolina's Special Olympics. The mid-winter games were held at the Citadel March 20-22 and boasted over 800 athletes from all over the state of South Carolina.

LEADERSHIP LECTURE: The Citadel School of Business Administration holds an installment of the South Carolina Bank and Trust Leadership Series. 5:45 p.m. Bond Hall, Room 165. Free and open to the public. Scheduled speaker is Madison, Va., attorney and law professor Edgar F. Puryear Jr., who discuss the role of character and success in business leadership.

Citadel basketball coach Ed Conroy has won the 2009 Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award as selected by CollegeInsider.com. The Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award is given annually to the Division I head coach who best represents the high standards of the coaching profession, which is winning with integrity. The award is named in memory of former Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser, who passed away suddenly on July 26, 2007.

The Citadel School of Business Administration has inducted Anita and the Jerry Zucker, William A. Moody Jr. and retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston into its Business Hall of Fame.

Statesboro, Ga.— Georgia Southern pounded out six homers and Jake Brown pitched effectively in relief leading Georgia Southern to a 20-8 win over College of Charleston and a sweep of its Southern Conference baseball series before 1,354 at J.I. Clements Stadium on Sunday.

Lori Cook, Libby Davis, Charles Mahaffey and Cindy Brennan have joined the development staff of The Citadel Foundation. Cook is assistant director of annual giving. She has a bachelor's degree from Mercer University and previously was director of operations and capital campaign assistant at Custom Development Solutions. Davis is research coordinator. She has a bachelor's degree in marketing and music from Ithaca College and previously was with the law firm of Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison. Mahaffey is senior development officer of leadership gifts. Previously, he was senior fiduciary consultant for Greenbriar Consulting LLC and philanthropic investment director for Wachovia's Nonprofit and Philanthropic Services Group in Winston Salem. Brennan is assistant to the associate executive director. She previously was with Hospice of Volusia/Flagler in Port Orange, Fla.

I think attaching the James Island Connector to I-526 in West Ashley is a boondoggle of taxpayer funds that is unnecessary and will worsen traffic. If built, it will be a parking lot during rush hour, just like I-26 is in North Charleston.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Monday that Gov. Mark Sanford's opposition to $700 million in federal stimulus cash for schools and public safety just shows the governor's animosity toward public education.  "He is anti-public education. That's all this is," Clyburn, D-S.C., told reporters before a speech at The Citadel. "He will do anything he possibly can to destroy public education."

ROCK HILL — Despite getting its best pitching of the season, Charleston Southern suffered its first Big South sweep of the year when Winthrop capped the weekend with a 2-1 victory at Winthrop Ballpark.

Wofford rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to beat The Citadel 5-4 and deny the Bulldogs their first Southern Conference sweep of the season Sunday at Riley Park.  The Terriers (13-13, 4-7) were led by Michael Gilmartin with three hits and the save, while Josh McKinney added a hit and two RBIs. The Bulldogs (17-11, 7-5) were led by David Greene and Matt Simonelli, each with two hits.

Three prominent politicians and strategists will speak at The Citadel this week, and their talks are free and open to the public.

--Commentator and geopolitical strategist Thomas P.M. Barnett, author of "Great Powers: America and the World After Bush," will sign copies of his book following an address at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Graham Copeland Auditorium in Grimsley Hall at The Citadel. The event is free and open to the public.

I'm Waddle, one of the South Carolina Aquarium's newest Magellanic penguins. I have been traveling around getting to know Charleston, seeing the sites, meeting the locals, and sharing photos from my adventures here. I could use some advice on where to go, so click the button below to suggest some of your favorite spots!

Winthrop scored six times in the ninth inning to rally for a 12-9 victory over The Citadel in a non-conference game Wednesday night at Riley Park.  The Bulldogs (15-10), who had a six-game winning streak snapped, led 9-6 going into the final inning and were one out away from a win.

A list of more than 100 recommendations to further higher education hit the desks of state legislators Thursday.  The recommendations range from easing the transition for adults into higher education to compulsory high school attendance until age 18 or graduation.  The comprehensive report is the work of the Higher Education Study Committee, which was formed by the General Assembly in 2007 to create a multi-year action plan for higher education.

The Citadel's defensive line is the most boisterous group on the field at spring football practice, celebrating sacks with leaping chest bumps and whoops of joy.  But among that talkative bunch is a redshirt freshman with a heavy heart. Sherrod Croom, a 6-4, 230-pound tackle from Kinston, N.C., lost his mother, Angela, to cancer less than a month ago. With no place to go home to, he spent spring break last week with a host family and did renovation work at the campus library to earn some spending money.

Author, commentator and geopolitical strategist Thomas P.M. Barnett will discuss America's leadership role in the world in the wake of the Bush administration when he visits The Citadel in April.

A list of more than 100 recommendations to further higher education hit the desks of state legislators Thursday. The recommendations range from easing transitions for adults into higher education, to compulsory high school attendance until age 18 or graduation. ... This fiscal year, The Citadel lost $3.6 million in state appropriations of its $13.5 million budget, the College of Charleston lost $8.8 million of its nearly $197 million budget, and Medical University of South Carolina lost $22.5 million of its $545 million budget..

The Citadel School of Business Administration is inducting four leaders into its Business Hall of Fame and honoring a fifth with the Distinguished Leadership Award.  The five individuals will be honored tonight at the school’s annual invitation-only black-tie banquet and awards presentation at the Holliday Alumni Center. The honorees this year are Anita and the late Jerry Zucker, Bill Moody, Maj. Gen. James Livingston and Robert Hill.

Edgar F. Puryear Jr. will talk on the role of character and success in business leadership as part of The Citadel School of Business Administration South Carolina Bank and Trust Leadership Series at 5:45 p.m. April 7 in Bond Hall, Room 165. Admission is free and open to the public.

Citadel Cadet Bryan J. Byler of Charleston received an undergraduate research award at the Southeastern Psychological Association Convention in New Orleans for his research project, "Testing a Developmental Model of Heroism: A Preliminary Study."