July 2, 2007 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

 SMC Dean of Students Honored By Spartanburg Lions Club
Hartzog Presented With Melvin Jones Fellowship

SPARTANBURG, SC –  Spartanburg Methodist College’s Dean of Students Dr. Arthur B. Hartzog, was recently presented with a Melvin Jones Fellowship by the Spartanburg Lions Club at its annual installation of officers ceremony. 

The fellowship is the Lions Club Foundation’s highest honor and represents humanitarian qualities such as generosity, compassion, and concern for the less fortunate.  $1,000 was donated in Hartzog’s honor to the Lions Club International Foundation for sight conservation from the local Club’s fundraising projects.  Fellowship donations are applied to the Lions’ aggressive global attack on preventable and curable blindness – the LCIF SightFirst II program.  Melvin Jones Fellows receive a lapel pin and a personalized wall plaque in honor of their commitment to helping others.  Created in 1973, the fellowship is named for the founder of Lions Clubs International, Melvin Jones. 

“This is such a meaningful award, as it represents the highest standards of Lionism.  I am truly thankful to each and every member of the club, because it is their generosity that helped make this possible,” says Hartzog. 

Dr. Hartzog has been a member of the Spartanburg Lions Club for the past five years.  He is completing a two-year term as the club’s “Tailtwister”, which is a position responsible for injecting fun and laughter into club meetings while raising funds in creative ways.  He occasionally uses his skills as a magician in that capacity.   

“Art has been a great asset to our club. He has excelled in every assignment given to him. He is the role model for all future "tailtwisters" to come. I am confident no one has raised more funds in this role than he. We are proud to honor him with this award and recognition,” says Ethan Burroughs, president of the Spartanburg Lions Club. 

At the June 25 meeting, Dr. Hartzog was installed as the club’s Second Vice President.  In this position, he will coordinate the work of committees responsible for public relations, liaison with the Salvation Army, the fair booth, youth outreach, and club health & welfare.  Vice presidents progress each year to the position of club president; Dr. Hartzog is scheduled to become president in July 2009. 

Dr. Hartzog has served as Dean of Students at Spartanburg Methodist College since 1999.  In that position, he is responsible for many of the non-academic areas of the College such as residence life, student activities, orientation, leadership development, counseling, campus safety, the discipline system, and the Freshman Year Experience program.  He has been a leader in professional organizations, and recently received one of the highest honors for student affairs professionals in South Carolina. 

Art and his wife Jean are members of Bethel United Methodist Church in Spartanburg.  Jean is a retired school teacher, and she and Art celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary earlier in June.  They have two children; Julie Hartzog is a Registered Nurse in the Myrtle Beach area, and Art, Jr. is a Senior Engineer with the City of Charleston. 

Spartanburg Methodist College is in its 96th year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning. 

####