Outstanding Alumni To Be Recognized During Banquet On October 6

Six Limestone College alumni will be honored during a banquet at Stephenson Dining Hall on Friday, Oct. 6, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Those being recognized at the Outstanding Alumni Awards Banquet include David E. Dorman, Alumnus of the Year; Frederick O. Knowles, III, Service To Church; Sharon Horton Eggers, Service To College; Pamela Melton Cazel, Service To Community; Franklin L. Foster, Service To Education; and Steven P. Christofides, Young Alumnus of the Year.

The Limestone Alumni Office received nominations in each category, and a committee made up of the College’s Alumni selected the award winners. The awards recognize graduates who have distinguished themselves in their professional fields and are exemplary ambassadors for Limestone. Recipients reflect the high-standing character of their alma mater.

Dorman (Class of 1983) serves as the Controller for Hamrick Mills, Inc., in Gaffney. In addition to his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Limestone, Dorman also holds a Master’s in Professional Accounting from Clemson University and a Master of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University. Dorman currently serves on the Limestone Board of Trustees. He serves in several capacities at First Baptist Church of Gaffney, and is active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Miracle Hill Ministries, Im Jai House Foundation, and Cherokee County Meals on Wheels. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Village School of Gaffney and the Cherokee Children’s Home.

“I would not have my career without Limestone,” Dorman said. “And I would never have discovered my ministry and calling without my specific career. So in effect, Limestone led me to my purpose in life.”

As Alumnus of the Year, Dorman is receiving the highest honor that the Limestone Alumni Committee bestows. It recognizes outstanding alumni who have made great contributions to their community, state, or nation through public service, distinguished themselves in their careers, and demonstrated a belief in the mission of Limestone College.

“I was raised to believe that Limestone matters to our community and to me,” Dorman explained. “Twelve years ago when I was first asked to serve on the Board of Trustees, I immediately thought of it as a way to give back something to an institution that gave so much to me.”

Dorman and his wife, Debbie, reside in Gaffney and he has two stepchildren and one grandson.

The Revered Deacon Knowles (Class of 2001) is employed by the Senior Centers of Cherokee County. He also works in youth ministry with the Knights of Columbus, and ministers with Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Gaffney, where he is a past youth minister. In addition to his Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Limestone, Knowles also holds a Master’s in Theology from Saint Leo University. He has also won painting and sculpture awards at several visual arts competitions.

“My wife and I both graduated from Limestone,” Knowles noted. “Being the first in both our families to obtain a post-high school degree has helped us to reach other goals. We now have a son graduating from Limestone in the coming year. We are a Family of Saints!”

Knowles and his wife, Amanda, reside in Gaffney.

Eggers (Class of 1971) is retired from the Cherokee County School District. She has served as the Corresponding Secretary for the Camellia Society of Gaffney for 22 years and has been the North Point Church Children’s Ministry Coordinator for 10 years. Eggers was named the Teacher of the Year in Cherokee County in 1987 and was named Special Education Teacher of the Year in 1990. She was the Secondary Reading Teacher of the Year in 1995. Eggers serves on the Limestone College President’s Advisory Council.

In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology/Sociology from Limestone, she received her Master’s in Reading Education from Gardner-Webb College.

“I have very fond memories of my time at Limestone,” she said. “It was my first experience away from home and a time that I learned who I was. I made many life-long friends while a student at Limestone. I truly believe that my Limestone degree in Sociology/Psychology made me a much better teacher.”

Eggers and her husband, Marc Don, reside in Gaffney and they have two children.

Cazel (Class of 1978) is the Executive Director of the Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society. She is the past Executive Director for the KNOW(2) initiative in Cherokee County, leading a grass roots task force of local volunteers to encourage student achievement. For the past two years, she has worked with the My Downtown Gaffney organization to develop and implement visual enhancement for the downtown area. She has hosted fundraising events in her home for the Winnie Davis Hall of History renovation project, as well as the Cherokee County Historical Society. Cazel is an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gaffney and has taken part in several international mission trips to build churches an and orphanages.

Cazel, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Theatre Arts from Limestone, and her husband Ed reside in Gaffney and they have two children.

“I have to say how important the friends that I made at Limestone are to me still to this day,” Cazel said. “I treasure these friendships now and will always. While I enjoyed a long professional career in technical sales that allowed me to experience living in large metropolitan areas, it was my experience at Limestone College that taught me how to see beyond my own perspective.

Foster (Class of 1996) is the Superintendent of the Colleton County School District. In addition to his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Limestone, he holds a Master’s in Elementary Education and an Educational Specialist degree from Converse College. His Doctorate in Philosophy of Educational Leadership is from Nova Southeastern University. Foster is a member of the Colleton County Economic Alliance Board, is the Chair of the Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Limestone College President’s Advisory Council.

“As a native of Gaffney, I selected Limestone to be a part of a small college environment,” Foster explained. “My time at Limestone had a very positive impact on my life by showing me the importance of developing positive relationships and sharpening my skills to become a devoted teacher and educator.”

Christofides (Class of 2014) is employed by the state of South Carolina. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Limestone in Criminal Justice, and completed the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy. Christofides was a part of Limestone’s 2014 NCAA Division II Men’s Lacrosse National Championship team. He has worked with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Children’s Ministry at NewSpring Church.

“My Limestone College education and experience paved the way for me to achieve this fantastic career that I am now enjoying,” Christofides noted. “Being a student-athlete in college was very demanding at times. I was very blessed with an awesome coach in J.B. Clarke. He taught me discipline and how to fight through difficult situations regardless of the circumstances.”

Christofides currently resides in Anderson.