SUPPORTING
INNOVATIVE
LEARNING
in Beaufort County Public Schools
The Foundation for Educational Excellence seeks and sustains county-wide charitable and educational resources that support the mission and goals of the public schools of Beaufort County, SC.
Inspiration Award
The Inspiration Award celebrates an individual or group who is supportive of Beaufort County schools and has demonstrated extraordinary dedication, passion, and skills
that influence and inspire students.
Announcing
The 2024 PEGGY MAY INSPIRATION AWARD
Dr. Jacqueline (Jackie) Rosswurm
The Foundation for Educational Excellence has named Dr. Jacqueline (Jackie) Rosswurm as the 2024 “Peggy May Inspiration Award” recipient for the leadership and commitment to education, organizational development, and community in Beaufort County.
Foundation Chair, Linda Navorska and other board members entered near the end of the annual Directors Council Meeting of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry to surprise and honor Dr. Rosswurm. “Jackie has devoted over 50 years to education,” stated Linda Navorska. “She has always been a large contributor to our Foundation efforts, but also serving all of Beaufort and surrounding counties through her executive leadership at Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. She is an inspiration to us all.”
Rosswurm, a first- generation college graduate, hails from Monroe, Michigan, a small factory town in the Midwest. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and received her master’s from Long Island University. A resident of the
Lowcountry since 1984, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Over the past five decades, she has served in almost every aspect of the public school system. She has been in the
classroom teaching, leading schools as a principal, working “behind the scenes” as a chief administrative and human
resources officer for Beaufort County schools and served as acting superintendent in 2012, prior to retiring. Rosswurm helped found Oglethorpe Academy Charter School in Savannah; and Neighborhood Charter School and the Atlanta Charter Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia. She also served as the Chief of Staff for the former State Superintendent of Education, Barbara Nielson.
In 2013, Rosswurm “retired” from education stating in her farewell letter to the Beaufort County Board of Education
that “I do not know what the future holds, but I do know that my life’s work is not yet complete and…that my belief in
the value of education will lead me to my next challenge and opportunity.”
In 2020, as a member of the Board of Directors of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry she stepped in as Interim President and CEO of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry (CFL) and later as Chair of the Board of Directors. She remains active with CFL. Under her leadership, the board set up the COVID-19 Response Fund with donations pouring in from the community. During this initiative, over $300,000 in grants were awarded to organizations in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton and Hampton counties that work directly with people in need through the CFL.
Another passion developed with sea turtles. Rosswurm helped set up the organizational framework for Turtle Trackers
of Hilton Head Island and established the Sea Turtle Preservation Fund following their mission to build awareness and
education about our local sea turtle efforts.
Throughout all these endeavors, Jackie has provided Chair leadership, board membership, monetary support and
guidance to the Foundation for Educational Excellence. “Our Foundation board quickly and unanimously voted for Jackie to receive the Peggy May Inspiration Award for her work and dedication to education in Beaufort County,” commented Lisa Carroll, Past Chair. “We look forward to her ongoing insight and action for our communities.”
The Peggy May Inspiration Award recognizes an individual who has been supportive of or attended Beaufort County
public schools and whose accomplishments have distinguished him/her in their chosen profession. The passion, skills
and success of this individual have positively influenced and inspired others, including Beaufort County School District
students, to recognize potential, opportunities and encourages students to invent their own futures. The award is
named for former recipient, the late Peggy May, who served as county and state Director of Adult Literacy, and Board
chair of the Foundation for Educational Excellence.
Previous recipients include 2013 American Idol Winner Candice Glover, Dr. Jane T. Upshaw, Dr. Emory Campbell, David
Lauderdale, Dr. Wayne Carbiener and Food Network contestant Orchid Paulmeier. The 2023 recipient was
former Beaufort County School Board Member, Laura Bush.
PREVIOUS INSPIRATION AWARD RECIPIENTS:
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2023 Recipient: Laura Bush Laura Bush of Bluffton was honored for over 50 years of public service, starting with aiding U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings' Hunger Tour and addressing parasitic infections in local children. From humble beginnings, Bush dedicated her career to health care, education, and community support in the Lowcountry, earning the Peggy May Inspiration Award.
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2022 Recipient: David Lauderdale Beginning at The Packet in 1977 as reporter, Lauderdale worked his way up from news editor to managing editor to editorial page editor before retiring in 2020. Throughout his career, he has always been an advocate for the people of our community and his support has been evident in his inspirational writing that has touched the lives of so many.
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2021 Recipient: EVERYONE working in the Beaufort County School District during Covid-19 In a unique twist, the Foundation recognized everyone in each school for their efforts to keep students connected and involved, whether in person or virtually - over 3,000 educators, administrators, custodians, cafeteria workers, maintenance personnel, plus many, many more who labored behind the scenes to make the best of a difficult situation.
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2020 Recipient: Kathy Cramer While teaching special education in the Beaufort County School system, as well as acting as the Co-Director of Area 8 Special Olympics, she worked diligently to fulfill her dream of seeing Special Olympics categorized as a school sport. After 33 years of teaching, Kathy retired from the school system to dedicate herself full-time to providing recreational opportunities to those with special needs.
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2019 Recipient: Dr. Jane T. Upshaw, Distinguished Chancellor Emerita, University of South Carolina Beaufort, who has shown devoted leadership throughout her career for the advancement of education in the Lowcountry
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2018 Recipient: Dr. Emory Campbell, recognized for contributions in the cultural and environmental heritage of the Lowcountry
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2017 Recipients: The Esquivel Family, champions for the Latino community
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2016 Recipient: Dr. Narendra P. Sharma, the founder of the Neighborhood Outreach Connection
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2015 Recipient: Peggy May, a retired educator, former chair of the Foundation for Educational Excellence, and former county and state Director of Adult Literacy
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2014 Recipient: Candice Glover, 2008 Beaufort High School graduate, who rose through the ranks to become the 2013 American Idol on FOX
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2013 Recipient: Dr. Wayne Carbiener, former Beaufort County School Board member and avid supporter of the Foundation for Educational Excellence
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2012 Recipient: Orchid Paulmeier, accomplished chef, finalist of The Next Food Network Star television series and active parent volunteer at children's schools in Beaufort County
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2011 Recipient: David Vincent Young, renowned chef and entrepreneur and 1989 graduate of Hilton Head Island High School
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2010 Recipient: Jonathan Green, recognized as one of our nation's outstanding African American artists and 1973 graduate of Beaufort High School