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Sandy Roberson is honored by student and family

||Roberson mingles with colleagues at ceremony.

Last updated February 27, 2017

By Tina Underwood

Wednesday, Feb. 13 was no ordinary day for Accounting Professor Sandy Roberson. During a ceremony disguised as a meeting, 30 colleagues in Business and Accounting, administration, and Roberson’s own family were on hand to witness the announcement that an award had been created in Roberson’s name by one of her students and the student’s parents.

Roberson mingles with colleagues, friends and family at ceremony.

Tony and Holly Thene, parents of Taylor Thene ’17, created the Sandy Roberson Outstanding Senior Accounting Award in appreciation for the care and mentoring Roberson provided Taylor as she pursued her degree in accounting.  The first recipient of the award will be selected this spring and recognized at the annual spring awards banquet.

In addition to recognition of an outstanding senior, the award carries a cash award to help the recipient pursue his/her fifth year of accounting in preparation for taking the Uniform Certified Public Accountant exam.

What struck Roberson most about the honor was how the endowed award will continue to benefit students long after her time at Furman. Says Roberson, “It didn’t hit me until I was driving home how amazingly wonderful this tribute is. We take joy in seeing students progress and do well … just seeing that look when they ‘get it’. We’ll sometimes get thank you notes, and they’re not necessary, but nice to get. So this [award] goes so far beyond ‘I’m thanking you today for something you did for me.’ To me, this award says, ‘Your help meant so much to me that I thank you today, next year, and the next.’ And that’s hard to get your mind around, really.”

On the plaque itself, inscribed is Taylor Thene’s thoughts about Roberson, “[Professor Roberson] has inspired me to love and enjoy accounting, and I am so fortunate to have learned all that I have from her. I feel blessed to call her my mentor and my friend.”

For more information about the Sandy Roberson Outstanding Senior Accounting Award, contact Suzy Summers in the Department of Business and Accounting at 864-294-3313, or suzy.summers@furman.edu.

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