2008 Woodie Awards
Forty years of AAAS
Student organization celebrates anniversary
Online Editor
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
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A celebration called "Celebrating 40 years of African-American Excellence at the University of South Carolina" will be held in the Russell House Ballroom at 6 p.m.
Amber Guyton, president of AAAS and a fourth-year advertising student, said the existence of AAAS itself is an achievement.
Guyton said the organization was created to unify the few African-American students on campus five years after the university was reintegrated and to make the campus culturally aware of African-American heritage.
"Forty years later, AAAS still works towards this goal through our weekly meetings, special events and community service," Guyton said.
Guyton said the AAAS motto is "Each one reach one, each one teach one. What you do not know, you must learn. Once you learned, then you must teach."
Guyton said she carries this motto with her daily.
"We are only serving our purpose if we are teaching and learning, reaching out to the rest of the Carolina community," Guyton said.
Guyton said throughout Cultural Awareness Week the organization will be celebrating Black History Month, highlighting the organization's anniversary today.
"We will be honoring USC African-American greats from the past and reuniting new and old AAAS members," Guyton said.
She said a few of the honorees include the three reintegrators of 1963: Harry Walker, the first African-American student body president; Jotaka Eaddy, the first female African-American student body president; and Ken Price, the first AAAS president.
Ashley Pauling, a third-year early childhood education student and the special events co-chair for AAAS, said Ken Price's daughters will accept his award on his behalf during the celebration.
"Ever since I've stepped on this campus I've seen people out on Greene Street promoting the organization, promoting what our campus needs," Pauling said.
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