Every August serves as a reminder that students are heading back to the classroom. As we gear up for back-to-school this year, we reflect on the foundational importance of education in building for the future. Many community organizations are dedicated to educational growth and success, and at Milliken, we have long been inspired by their work, particularly those in our global home of Spartanburg County. 

With the support of the Milliken Foundation, we were honored to recently present two of these local organizations, Spartanburg Academic Movement and South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, with gifts to assist their individual but congruent missions of enhancing local education.

From cradle to career, Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) pursues high levels of educational achievement through partnerships with Spartanburg County schools and colleges, businesses, governments, foundations, faith communities and individuals. Notably, Spartanburg County recently became the eighth community recognized by national network, Strive Together, for consistently improving student developmental progress across seven local school districts. Milliken is proud to have a long-standing partnership with SAM, and this year, support their mission with a $50,000 gift from the Milliken Foundation.

South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) seeks to advance independent higher education through fundraising, scholarships, and importantly, research. With Milliken’s strong research roots in support of innovation, this year’s $5,000 gift from the Milliken Foundation directly sponsors two research-related SCICU initiatives. The SCICU Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program was designed in 1995 with a goal to transform students’ lives and encourage them to explore careers in research — connecting undergraduate students with quality research experiences. The Student Research Symposium, held annually at Milliken’s corporate campus, is home to the student’s presentations of their research findings.

Aligning with long-held Milliken company values of education and cultural vitality, Spartanburg Academic Movement and SCICU inspire local youth to define what success means to them, and to grow into future leaders and innovators that will inevitably influence the generations to come.

Feature image: Cotton Belt Elementary School, York, S.C. Designed by HKWB Designs, Photography by Clear Sky Images