Hitt Honored as "Pickens-Salley Southern Woman of Distinction" by USC Aiken
March 21, 2008
The University of South Carolina Aiken honored Ola Hitt with the Pickens-Salley Southern Woman of Distinction Award at the sixth annual Pickens-Salley Symposium on Southern Women, held March 19.
“The Pickens-Salley Southern Woman of Distinction Award recognizes a local woman who has made a positive impact on our community and who serves as a role model for others,” said Dr. Deidre Martin, vice chancellor for university advancement and chair of the Symposium’s planning committee. “Ms. Hitt embodies the spirit of the award as she has committed her life’s work to serving others and improving the Aiken community.”
Ola Hitt, whose family has been associated with the town of Aiken since its beginnings in 1831, is best known for her service to U.S. veterans. For more than 30 years, Hitt ran a residential home for veterans, housing hundreds of servicemen in the two residences she maintained on Chesterfield Street.
For many years, she has served on numerous historical committees, including the Aiken County Historical Society. In 1990, Hitt received the prestigious Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor the State of South Carolina can bestow upon a citizen.
The Pickens-Salley Symposium is held annually on the USC Aiken campus to honor the contributions of southern women. For more information about the Symposium, please contact Martin at 803-641-3448 or deidrem@usca.edu.
