A pair of graduates from USC Aiken created a scholarship at the School of Business Administration for students who want to “invest” in their future.
Jason Crane and Gerry Owen, co-founders and owners of Crane & Owen Financial Solutions in Aiken, pledged $25,000 to start the Jason K. Crane and Gerry L. Owen Endowed Business Scholarship for students majoring in accounting or finance.
“We look in our industry and in accounting, and there’s a growing need. There are a lot of folks in financial fields that are closer to retirement than not, and there’s not necessarily a lot of young people going into those fields,” Crane told ABD.
The scholarship will make an annual award of $1,000 to a rising junior or senior seeking a degree from USCA as a full-time student.
“I’m a big believer in selecting a degree that you can monetize,” said Owen, adding it can also give talented local students a pathway to remain in the area. “I was concerned whether my kids would have the opportunities to stay local if they wanted to. We’ve got a lot of positive things going on here in the CSRA now, and I feel like there are opportunities that you can spend a career here in the CSRA, be fulfilled, be part of the community.”
To be selected, the student must have a demonstrated financial need, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a major in finance or accounting. Consideration will be given to any student participating in community service or extracurricular activities at USCA.
Crane and Owen took different paths to lead them to their current partnership. Owen attended the School of Business, while Crane majored in Humanities and Political Science, and they graduated 10 years apart. But their time at USCA created a common bond.
“Gerry is on the Partnership Board for the school, and I’m on the School of Business Advisory Council, specifically for the School of Business,” said Crane. “We’re connected there. We want to see more continued success from USC Aiken and its students and, ultimately, graduates from the school.”
“I think it’s a great way to give back to the university,” Owen added. “USC Aiken has a great value for a four-year liberal arts degree, but still expensive. So, if we can help a young student defray borrowing more money than they have to think it’s great.”
Both men credited their studies at USCA, coupled with their independent career paths, with leading them to the successful partnership they have. That was the impetus to create the scholarship.
“Let’s put our money where our mouth is, let’s help pay for some students to go into either accounting or finance. If no one’s there, then it’ll go to, broadly speaking, to business students as well,” said Crane. “We want to support USC Aiken, and this is a hammer-to-nail way to do it.”
“We felt like this was a good thing,” added Owen, “But also, I would throw the challenge out there for other alums that have benefited from their time at USCA and think about doing this and collectively raising money for the university. It helps the university and helps the students.”
