Folks about town

Mark Shields

Coran Doran , a senior at A.C. Flora, was selected as part of Furman University's class of recipients for the Hollingsworth Scholarship.

Gwendolyn Youngblood from South University's Columbia campus was

awarded the Joseph Mallini Memorial Scholarship for winning the 2007

Palmetto Paralegal Association essay contest.

Mark Shields is director of sales at Mungo Homes.

Renee R. Brooks has been named corporate secretary of SCBT Financial Corporation.

John H. Dawson , a professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at USC, received the 2006 Charles H. Stone Award from the Carolina Piedmont Section of the American Chemical Society.

Renee R. Brooks

Salman Rushdie and National Book Award winner Joyce Carol Oates are among the writers who will participate in Caught in the Creative Act , the popular series of free community readings and lectures given by well- known writers at USC.

The Richland County Recreation Commission has been chosen by the South Carolina Association of Adult Education Directors as Business/Industry of the Year 2006- 2007.

City Center Partnership's new Board Members are John Parks , executive director of Innovista; Bill Sills , director of facilities and contract services at Nelson Mullins; and Terry Brown, CEO of Edens and Avant.

(l to r) Thomas N. Bagnal, organizing president; Sen. John Courson; Michael T. Lowman, current president; Sen. Ronnie Cromer; Earl E. McLeod Jr., current executive director; and John Elkins, former executive director celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia.

CarterTodd & Associates , an agency specializing in public relations, marketing, and creative services, has been selected as a Resource Partner by S.C. Launch! The program is a collaboration among SCRA, Clemson University, USC, and the USC Medical University to strengthen South Carolina's emerging Knowledge Economy.

Columbia Housing Authority has been named a 2007 recipient of four National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials Merit Awards. The winners are Celia Saxon Development, Project Design; Celia Saxon Free Wi-Fi Network , Program Innovation: Community Revitalization; Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program , Program Innovation: Community Revitalization; Career Development Program , Program Innovation: Resident and Client Services.

Dr. Betty Glad , the Olin D. Johnston Professor of Political Science at USC, was awarded the Distinguished Alumnae Award by the University of Utah's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Historic Columbia Foundation named Latrice Williams director of communications and Alexis Thompson collections manager.

The S.C. General Assembly elected Don Beatty to the S.C. Supreme Court on a third ballot.

The S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs announced the recipients of the 2007 Consumer Spirit Awards: Heather Sullivan, WSPA- TV, Spartanburg; Jean Rinehardt Bridges, West Columbia; and The Honorable Linda Short, State Senator, Chester.

Sara Frieden is the new copywriter at Lux + Associates.

Deborah Francis was named the 2007 Award winner for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership.

Wesley Few is the newest shareholder of Ellis, Lawhorne & Sims.

Boyd E. Summers has joined Colliers Keenan Inc. as a real estate brokerage professional.

Henry W. Roe has joined Colliers Keenan Inc. as a senior broker specializing in office properties.

Erin Christmas joined Kirkland, Thomas, Watson & Dyches LLC.

Jamin D. McCallum has joined Kirklad, Thomas, Watson & Dyches LLC.

The 2007 Governor's Award for Excellence in Scientific Research was received by Carolina Distinguished Professor Daniel L. Reger , of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina. Dr. Stacey Franklin Jones is the recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Scientific Awareness, 2007, and Dr. Varavut Limpasuvan received the 2007 Governor's Young Scientist Award for Excellence in Scientific Research.