Furman University and CCES Announce Educational Partnership

Photo: Furman University President Rodney Smolla (right, with Headmaster Leonard Kupersmith) announced a unique partnership between Furman and CCES at an Upper School meeting on Thursday, January 12th.


Christ Church Episcopal School and Furman University have common interests. Both private schools are funded almost entirely through tuition, fees, and philanthropy. Both schools are dedicated to challenging academic offerings, strong athletics and arts programs, and the development of the whole person. Both schools are committed as well to promoting high character and cohesive communities while inspiring students to serve the greater good. CCES and Furman University hire faculty who are dedicated to going extra miles with students and have high competence in their disciplines.

In light of these common traits and aspirations, President Rodney Smolla and Headmaster Leonard Kupersmith are excited about forging a strong partnership between their schools. These leaders are taking two coordinate steps to strengthen the alliance.

President Smolla announced to the CCES Upper School student body and faculty this morning that Furman University will encourage CCES seniors to take a keen interest in Furman for undergraduate education by waiving the formal admission process and deferring to a clear and deliberate endorsement alone from the Headmaster. As a further incentive to such a prospective Furman student, the university will provide a $10,000 merit award, renewable for four years, to all such CCES students. This award is not need-based and is limited to students who will not apply for financial assistance. The award may be supplemented by other merit-based scholarships offered by Furman University like the Hollingsworth, Duke, and Lay scholarships.

 

CCES Upper School Director Pete Sanders, Headmaster Leonard Kupersmith, Furman University President Rod Smolla, CCES Director of College Counseling Linda Schulz, and CCES Associate Director of College Counseling Ivey Harrison, following the announcement of the new educational partnership between the two schools.

This partnership is unique in South Carolina for Furman University. CCES deeply respects the experience that its graduates have had at Furman. It also is appreciative of the fine opportunities afforded at other colleges and universities that its graduates attend in South Carolina.

CCES, on its part, feels the same way as Furman in its confidence that Furman faculty and staff and their children make ideal members of the CCES school community. To assist Furman faculty and staff to be able to afford CCES for their children, CCES and Furman University will create a Furman scholar merit fund to defray a portion of the cost of tuition at CCES. President Smolla and Headmaster Kupersmith will commit discretionary financial support to this fund for prospective CCES students who are children of Furman faculty and staff.

These awards apply only to new Furman students and new CCES students. The program applies to applicants for the 2012-13 school year and thereafter. The candidates for CCES are eligible to apply for financial assistance as well. CCES has class size limits and will continue to honor them.

President Smolla and Headmaster Kupersmith and their respective schools look forward to a long, productive, and prosperous relationship. They will continue to explore other opportunities to build their partnership. These include continuing education for CCES faculty at Furman and teaching stints at CCES for Furman faculty.

President Smolla celebrates the promise of this enhanced partnership:

"Furman and CCES are mutually committed to the value of educating the 'whole student,' encompassing mind, sprit, and physical well-being, as well as values of community service and civic engagement. This new partnership between Furman and CCES will benefit both of these wonderful schools, and beyond that, benefit the community at large."

On his part, Dr. Kupersmith is equally enthusiastic:

“The Furman Class of 2012 contains fifteen CCES alums who have prospered at Furman. Many are planning their next steps in professional and graduate education programs. We believe that the culture and quality of Furman mirrors ours at CCES.”