Quill and Scroll salutes Dickey's leadership

Richard P. Johns, executive director of Quill and Scroll, the international honorary society for high school journalists, presented a Quill and Scroll testimonial scroll to Beth Dickey in recognition of her leadership and service to scholastic journalism through her efforts and outreach from the University of South Carolina.

He made the following comments during the scroll presentation:

In 1973 SIPA’s first convention at the University of South Carolina took place with more than 250 delegates in attendance at the Capstone dormitory. It was the first SIPA convention planned by new Assistant Director Beth Dickey.

A special highlight of that convention was the creatively designed mouth-watering banana splits that were enjoyed by the students and advisers and it was the beginning of many Beth Dickey trademarks to be associated with SIPA.

Ice cream, chocolate syrup, butterscotch syrup, nuts and sprinkles were enjoyed last night and continue to a part of a special, three-day scholastic journalism experience beautifully orchestrated by Beth Dickey.

In bringing SIPA to the University of South Carolina, Dean Al Scroggins had a special vision when he launched the organization and said, “SIPA is alive and well and living in South Carolina,” and he vowed to provide the type of support it deserved and needed to survive and flourish. His naming of Beth Dickey as assistant director of SIPA was a move to help ensure that survival.

Indeed SIPA is alive and well and flourishing under Beth Dickey’s leadership.

Any association is a labor intensive and time-consuming work, and in order to survive and provide for the needs of its members, it takes a dedicated, enthusiastic and visionary leader to help keep the wheels in motion and move the organization forward.

No convention takes place without a few surprises or new hurdles that have to be jumped in spite of the foresight, hard work and best laid plans of its director.

Beth Dickey has been “the best," but Beth’s level of success is the result of her love of others (students, advisers, colleagues, SIPA’s executive committee members and many others) and her ability to listen and then implement to make things happen.

Beth doesn’t like to be in the spotlight and that is understandable, but today we salute Beth Dickey for her dedication, being a dreamer and making SIPA the best!

As executive director of Quill and Scroll Society and on behalf of its members, it is my pleasure to present a Quill and Scroll testimonial scroll to Beth Dickey in recognition of her leadership and service to scholastic journalism through all of her efforts and outreach from the University of South Carolina.

Quill and Scroll, the international honorary society for high school journalists salutes Beth Dickey, executive director of the Southern Interscholastic Press Association upon her retirement and recognizing her role and leadership in promoting the excellence of young journalists and their advisers in their scholastic journalism endeavors.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures this 4th day of March, 2006,

George H. Gallup, Jr. Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Richard P. Johns, executive director.