Kauffman Remembrance
Day and Award

Every Spring, the Center for Lifelong Learning holds a Remembrance Day to honor the memory of Dr. Earl F. Kauffman. Dr. Kauffman was one of the individuals most responsible for the creation of the Academy for Lifelong Learning, one of the Center's predecessor organizations, back in 1989. (To learn more about Dr. Kauffman and the founding of the Academy for Lifelong Learning, please see our History page. Even more detail may be found in the brochure of the first Kauffman Memorial Lecture (now called Kauffman Remembrance Day), March 22, 1991. You may read or download the brochure here.)

Each year on Kauffman Remembrance Day an award is given in Dr. Kauffman's memory to recognize a group or individual who has made significant contributions to the Center. This recognition has been given annually since 1992, three years after the Academy's founding. (2021 was an exception; no luncheon was held due to COVID-19.)

The Kauffman Luncheon is held in April and is funded in part from an endowment created by USC Aiken Professor James Kauffman and his family in memory of his father Earl. All Center members are sent invitations and are encouraged to attend. An RSVP is required for event planning purposes.

*Vicki Collins was selected in 2020, but COVID-19 precluded a Luncheon. Sadly, Vicki died before the award could be presented to her. It was accepted by her husband at the 2022 Luncheon.

The McGrath Computer Learning Center, the other predecessor organization of the Center, selected a Volunteer of the Year during its years of operation 1999–2021. Each year's awardee was nominated by and voted on by the Steering Commitee. You can see the list of awardees here.