Spartanburg Methodist College

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.

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.

This award is given annually in honor of the first president of KSA, Rev. Thomas (Tommy) R. Bailey, to the member of Kappa Sigma Alpha who has exhibited outstanding service to humanity through their hours of community service through their dedication and accomplishment of the projects sponsored by KSA. The advisors select this student through careful reviewing of records of participation, hours of service and overall spirit as exhibited in the organization.

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

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

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

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 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.

Presented to a male and a female athlete for exhibiting excellence in academics, leadership, honesty, citizenship, responsibility, and dedication. The athletic staff nominates students, and then all discuss and vote on the recipients.

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 annually for academic achievement in physics courses at SMC. Winners must have completed at least two semesters of physics classes or be currently enrolled in their second physics course. Winners are chosen from those with the highest grades in their physics coursework. Consideration is given to the following: acting as a tutor for the physics courses and providing in-class leadership.

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.

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 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 annually for academic achievement in psychology courses at SMC. There are two awards given: one at the associate's level and another in the BA program. The top candidates must have finished psychology courses with the highest GPA and must have displayed academic discipline, integrity, and leadership. The required psychology courses at the associate's level are Psychology 101 (General Psychology) and Psychology 201 (Developmental Psychology). 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.

This award is given annually to one or more students who display qualities of excellence in mathematical skills and are judged the most outstanding in mathematics.

This award is given annually to an outstanding student from the BA Religion Concentration. Criteria considered for this award include academic achievement, leadership in classroom discussions, and service to the college and community. Special consideration may be given to students who plan to pursue religion as a career path. The recipient is selected by the faculty in the Religion Department.

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.

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.

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.

This award is given annually to a student enrolled in the BA program who displays excellence in upper-level English courses. The recipient is determined by the English faculty. The award consists of a framed certificate and a cash prize.

This award goes to the student who makes the greatest contribution to the Trailblazer student newspaper. The Trailblazer's advisor selects the recipient.