New Scholarship To Honor Limestone's Own "Dr. Tom"

Limestone College officials announced on Wednesday, Sept. 26, the creation of the “Dr. Tom” Honors Program Scholarship that has been established to recognize beloved History professor Dr. Thomas J. Thomson. The scholarship details were unveiled during a faculty meeting at the College on Wednesday afternoon. Thomson, the Honors Program founder who served at Limestone full-time from 1972 until 2014, was present at the meeting but was unaware that such a tribute was being bestowed upon him. “Certain professors have personified Limestone College throughout its long history,” noted current History Professor and Honors Program Director Dr. Jonathan Sarnoff. “Dr. Montague McMillan was that professor in the mid-20th century. From 1972 until 2014, Dr. Thomson fulfilled that role. It is therefore fitting that this scholarship be named for him. From the time the Honors Program was founded at Limestone in the 1980s, ‘Dr. Tom’ spent tireless hours building it up. Recipients of this scholarship will be worthy of his legacy.” Dr. Thomson is now a Professor of History Emeritus at Limestone. Proceeds from the new scholarship will be awarded competitively to one or more incoming Honors Program freshmen who have a minimum SAT score of 1200 or an ACT score of at least 25, and a minimum 3.5 (out of 4.0) high school grade point average. The scholarship is renewable annually, provided the student or students are in good standing at the College and within the Honors Program. Those interested in contributing to the “Dr. Tom” Honors Program Scholarship are encouraged to visit www.limestone.edu/donate-now. Donations can also be accepted by contacting Kelly Curtis, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, at kcurtis@limestone.edu or at (864) 488-4606. Under Dr. Thomson’s guidance, Limestone’s Honors Program was established in the fall of 1983 in order to create a challenging academic environment for Day Campus gifted and special ability students. The Honors Program now accepts approximately 30 new students per year. Criteria used for selection include SAT and ACT scores, rank in class, the nature of courses taken in high school, and grade-point average. Limestone’s Honors Program provides an advanced opportunity for students from all major fields to deepen their intellectual study, leadership, and service. It is designed to build a foundation for personal and professional growth and is excellent preparation to gain entrance into the nation’s top graduate programs. “Our Honors Program grants our high-achieving students with additional opportunities to explore their true potential and to enhance their experience at Limestone,” said the College’s President Dr. Darrell Parker. “I applaud our faculty for taking the initiative to lead this effort to recognize someone as admirable as Dr. Thomson in this way. The generous gifts from our faculty members and others will provide key support for our honors program and will foster intellectual inquiry, which is central to Limestone’s mission. In addition, our focus on the growth and development of the Honors Program is a key part of that larger mission.”