When We Dare to Dream

Kim Bowman, GSSM

On Tuesday, March 12, South Carolina’s Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) proudly honored the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Medicine Greenville with its 2013 Charles H. Townes Award. Celebrated annually, the Award is given in honor of Dr. Townes, a South Carolina native and Nobel Laureate in physics. Townes received the Nobel Prize in 1964 for his work in quantum electronics, leading to the invention of the laser.

Each year, when we consider possible honorees, we look for businesses, institutions, and individuals who take innovation to a higher level whether it’s in science, business, education or public service. This year we selected the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville as our Townes Award recipient; they are definitely reaching for the stars!

The theme for our event was “Keep on Dreaming.” which we felt was particularly appropriate considering GSSM started with a dream and we don’t plan to ever stop!

The USC School of Medicine Greenville started with a dream, too. And now, South Carolina’s Upstate is home to a four-year medical school that reaches beyond the typical medical education process to train future doctors, alongside today’s physicians, in an integrated, clinical environment.

Despite a few obvious differences, GSSM and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville share the same dream: to question what is possible, to continually improve what is available and to keep on dreaming because the future of South Carolina needs our ideas, energy and passion.

We hope that by awarding the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville with the Townes Award, we have helped raise awareness of this impressive new program and its potential for driving the state into the forefront of medical education across our country and beyond.

Keep on Dreaming South Carolina! Together, we can make dreams come true.

Kim Bowman is the CEO of the South Carolina Governor’s School of Science & Mathematics Foundation.