Folks about town

Roland M. Franklin Jr.

Lorenza Cooper Jr., a

student majoring in geography in the College of Natural Resources at

Virginia Tech, recently received the William O. Ross Scholarship, which is awarded to students based on interest in and contributions to the field of natural resources. It also is based on financial need, academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, and community service.

Michael Thacker has been named the new president and chairman of the YMCA's board.

Coastal Carolina University presented awards for faculty and student academic achievement and recognition at the annual Honors Convocation. The winners were Anthony Franklin , the 2006- 2007 Faculty's Distinguished Excellence Award; Janet Shokal , the 2006- 2007 Ronald D. Lackey Service Award; James Luken , the Distinguished Teacher Scholar Lecturer Award; Charmaine Tomczyk , the Student Affairs Division Award; Kevin M. Jenrette , the 2006- 2007 Coastal Carolina Distinguished Teacher of the Year; and Ronald R. Ingle , the first Education Freedom Award by CCU's chapter of the NAACP.

Roland M. Franklin Jr., an attorney with Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC has been appointed to the editorial board of South Carolina Lawyer magazine.

Elizabeth M. McKown has been appointed to serve on the S.C. State Board of Directors for the Blind and Dyslexic.

The City of Columbia's Office of Economic Development received the Palmetto Pillar Community Service Award for its work with the USC Columbia Technology Incubator, and a Municipal Achievement Award in Economic Development from the Municipal Association of S.C.

Frank Baker , an education consultant, was honored with a prestigious Cable's Leaders in Learning Award for creating and implementing innovative ways to educate students.

Kevin Cooper will serve as account executive for Amedisys Home Health Care's West Columbia agency.

The Legal 500 U.S. ranked Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP among the top third most recommended law firms in the Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense (pharmaceuticals and medical devices) category in its Volume III: Litigation.

A home built by Kendrick Properties and represented by local realtor Christy Duffell-Seguin was honored with the Best Overall $401,000 to $500,000 Home award at the 2007 Tour of Homes.

The AD Company, a full service marketing

communications firm, was honored by the Carolina

Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society at the 2006 Wallie and Silver Tusk Awards.

M. Stevenson Smith , the CEO and chairman of Wilbur Smith Associates (WSA), has been appointed to the board of trustees of Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals.