Dear students and alumni,
With the holiday season upon us, I am reminded of all of the blessings in my life: a loving family, great friends and an opportunity to serve you.
I am also blessed to be a part of an organization that values family and giving our employees an opportunity to focus on the things that matter during the holiday season. This Thanksgiving, we participated in our 10th year of Turkey Takeout, an annual food drive that benefits families in our community. This year, CSU collected more than 2,500 canned goods and volunteers from across the county helped to prepare 300 turkey dinners for families in need. That is a lot of turkey!
The Christmas spirit is alive on the CSU campus, too. This year, we are supporting our local Salvation Army and Diversicare, a home that cares for local senior citizens. Employees can “adopt” a local child or senior resident through the CSU angel tree and gift them with items on their Christmas wish list.
Speaking of giving back, CSU recently recognized two Knights for their remarkable contributions to their communities. Sgt. Ashley Williams of the Easley (South Carolina) Police Department is the recipient of the Outstanding Law Enforcement Professional Award and Casey Jones of the Little Rock (Arkansas) Fire Department is the recipient of the Outstanding Fire Professional Award. These awards were created at CSU to recognize Knights who are committed to making a difference in their fields and their communities.
At CSU, we truly believe that giving back and spending time with loved ones are what rejuvenates us for the year ahead. Because of this, CSU will be closed Dec. 24-27, as well as Jan. 1. You may find all the details surrounding the holiday closure and information regarding assignment submission deadlines on the Communicator.
This holiday season, I hope you take time to reflect on your blessings, big and small. Do you and your family or coworkers work with a beloved charity to make seasons brighter for others in your community? Do you gather and fellowship over a shared meal? Whatever you are doing to spread the holiday spirit, I commend you. The gift of charity is exponential. What you are doing in your community has a far reach.
I have so many blessings to be grateful for this year, including each of you.
Sincerely,
Ken Styron
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
I love the idea that Christ gave his life for us. Charity is us giving a piece of our life to show we love others. We are all part of God’s family, each with unique amazing characteristics. Christmas is special to me, and I am thankful for a wonderful college that observes Christmas in a respectful way. God bless all the CSU staff and have a blessed Christmas!
We are thankful for you too, Aaron! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. We hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas.
Sincerely,
Libby Reilly
Communications Coordinator
CSU Marketing