Spartanburg Methodist College

The Spartanburg Methodist College athletic department is pleased to announce the spring 2026 Athletic Director's Honor Roll. Student-Athletes who compile a 3.25 GPA or better while being enrolled in 12+ hours each semester will be named to the list.

These awards are given to the student(s) who produce the best photography for the literary magazine each year. The literary magazine advisor asks an independent juror (a local artist, usually) to rate the work that is to be published in the magazine.

These awards are given to the student(s) who produce the best artwork for the literary magazine each year. The literary magazine advisor asks an independent juror (a local artist, usually) to rate the work that is to be published in the magazine.

These awards are given to the student(s) who produce the best creative poetry for the literary magazine each year. The literary magazine advisor selects a faculty/staff member or a local writer to rate the pieces that are selected for inclusion in the magazine.

These awards are given to the student(s) who produce the best creative fiction and non-fiction for the literary magazine each year. The literary magazine advisor selects a faculty/staff member or a local writer to rate the pieces that are selected for inclusion in the magazine.

The SMC Music Student of the Year is awarded to the student making the most outstanding progress in the scholarship (Theory and Composition) and performance (Theory Skills) aspects of music study.

Given in memory of the late Senator Olin D. Johnston to the student regarded as having rendered the greatest contribution to SMC.

Given to a graduating student on the basis of citizenship, character, scholarship, and athletic ability.

Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Yandle have been committed supporters of Spartanburg Methodist College and its students for many years. In 2013, the Yandles were so moved by the story of our student speaker that they established and endowed a new award, the Yandle Class Leader Award to honor future student speakers. This award is to be given to the individual who is selected as the Student Speaker at commencement and carries a $1,000 scholarship.

Given to graduating students (one male and one female) who display qualities of honor, courage, scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

The purpose of this award is to provide recognition of an outstanding freshman student at Spartanburg Methodist College. The student receiving the award must be classified as a freshman, having completed specific academic requirements (including being on track to have completed at least 24 credit hours with a 2.5 GPA). The outstanding freshman should have a positive image among students, faculty, and staff and with no disciplinary record. The student participates in extracurricular life in the college in a manner that reflects their leadership potential. Additional considerations include participating in community service, being a role model for other students, and representing the college in a positive light.

The Heart of the Pioneer Award was established to recognize student leaders who embody a pioneering spirit and who have made a significant positive difference on campus.

Given in memory of Samuel Haywood Poston of Spartanburg, SC, a 1951 graduate of Spartanburg Junior College, former Chair, and faithful member of the Alumni Council, this award is presented annually to a male student judged to be representative of the Christian qualities of compassion, forgiveness, justice, loving care of others, and service to the community. The Chaplain selects the recipient.

Given in memory of Ella Jordan Lynn of Jefferson, SC, this award is presented annually to a female student judged to be representative of Christian qualities of compassionate care, loving devotion, and unselfish service to others. The Chaplain selects the recipient.

This award will be given to a first-year Pioneer Ambassador who has shown increased levels of leadership and responsibility.

This award recognizes a senior student who has completed all four years of the Pioneer Ambassador Program.

This award will be given to a Pioneer Ambassador who has shown excellent leadership and responsibility.

This award is given to a returning CA who, through their leadership position, supported the mission of Community Life by promoting educational communities and engaging a diverse student body in learning, leadership, and personal development by providing a comfortable and safe living environment that is conducive to academic success. The criterion by which the recipient is chosen includes outstanding service to Community Life and to SMC through programming efforts, work ethic, and campus visibility. Recipients must display dependability, compassion, and dedication to the SMC community. The recipients are chosen by the Community Life Staff.

The SGA Member of the Year Award is given to the SGA member or officer that showed the greatest commitment to SGA and great abilities of leadership and service to the student body throughout the academic year. The SGA Senate submits student nominations which are tallied to select a winner.

This award is given to the member of the X-Vibes who exemplifies leadership, commitment, and service to the organization and who understands and works to promote the value of programming for the campus at large. The award is named after Jessica Williams and Tavy Garcia, two of the original officers of the SMC programming Board who were instrumental in its early success and legacy. The recipient will be chosen by the XVibes Advisor, along with input from the officers. The award will be a plaque, paid for out of the Student Activities Budget.

This award is given to a new CA who, through their leadership position, supported the mission of Community Life by promoting educational communities and engaging a diverse student body in learning, leadership, and personal development by providing a comfortable and safe living environment that is conducive to academic success. The criterion by which the recipient is chosen includes outstanding service to Community Life and to SMC through programming efforts, work ethic, and campus visibility. Recipients must display dependability, compassion, and dedication to the SMC community. The recipients are chosen by the Community Life Staff.

This award is given to students who have completed a chemistry sequence or are in the second semester of a chemistry sequence. The student must also have completed or are in the second semester of either two semesters of biology or two semesters of physics. Two scholarships are available. One is a freshman scholarship that is given to a freshman as, a rising sophomore who plans to stay at Spartanburg Methodist College. The check is made to the student and the college. The second is a sophomore scholarship to be given to a sophomore. The check is made to the student and the college/university they intend to transfer to.

This award is given for academic achievement in chemistry courses at SMC. Criteria: Candidates much have completed at least two semesters of chemistry classes or be currently enrolled in their second course. Candidates are chosen from those with the highest grades in their chemistry coursework. Consideration is given to the following additional information: acting as a tutor for the chemistry courses and demonstrating a positive attitude towards the sciences in general and the class in particular.

This award is given annually for academic achievement in biology courses at SMC. Winners must have completed at least two semesters of biology classes or be currently enrolled in their second biology course. Winners are chosen from those with the highest grades in their biology coursework. Consideration is given to the following additional information: taking biology courses from more than one biology professor, acting as a tutor for the biology courses, taking the Zoology or Botany course and providing in-class leadership.

This award is given annually for academic achievement in psychology courses at SMC. The top candidates must have finished psychology courses with the highest GPA and must have displayed academic discipline, integrity, and leadership. The recipients will be selected by the psychology faculty.

This award is given annually to a member or officer of Psi Beta who displays sound leadership, maturity, and responsibility, as well as commitment and dedication to the organization. The recipient is selected by the faculty sponsors.

Given to the student who completed the greatest number of Social Science courses with the highest GPA and who maintained personal integrity, academic discipline, and sound leadership. The social science faculty will discuss and choose the winner.

Given annually to a student who has shown excellence in Spanish by recommendation of the Spanish professor(s). The winner will have taken at least two Spanish courses, earning an A in each one. The student should have taken the highest level of Spanish being offered.

The Outstanding Drama Student Award is given to the student who has contributed the most to the drama program during the past school year. Factors taken into consideration in the selection of the award winner include classes taken, grades made in these classes, professional behavior and leadership in college productions, outside-of-class participation, and leadership in dramatic activities on and off campus. Faculty in the Speech/Drama Program decide the student who will receive the award each year at Awards Day.

While the award itself has been in existence for many years, in 2009, the History Award was named in honor of Dr. Paul S. Lofton, Jr., a longtime history professor at SMC. The award recognizes a student or students who have excellent performance in history classes at SMC. The recipient is chosen by the history faculty.