SMC Names Winners for Blue Granite Review Awards in Photography
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.
Academic Award -
May 19
SMC Names Winners for Blue Granite Review Awards in Art
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.
Academic Award -
May 19
SMC Names Blue Granite Review Poetry Winners
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.
Academic Award -
May 19
SMC Names Blue Granite Review Fiction/Non-Fiction Prose Winners
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.
Academic Award -
May 19
Music Department Award for Excellence
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.
Academic Award -
May 19
Pioneer Ambassador of the Year
This award will be given to a Pioneer Ambassador who has shown excellent leadership and responsibility.
Academic Award -
May 18
New Community Assistant of the Year
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
Williams-Garcia, Xvibes Member of the Year
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
Returning Community Assistant of the Year
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
Norma Jean Miller Scholarship Award
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
SMC Chemistry Award
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
Psychology Award - Bachelor's Degree
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
Peter Aylor Psi Beta Award
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
Katherine Cann Social Sciences Award
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
Spanish Award
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
Outstanding Drama Student Winner
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
Paul S. Lofton History Award
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
The Trailblazer Award for Journalism
This award goes to the student who makes the greatest contribution to the Trailblazer student newspaper. The Trailblazer's advisor selects the recipient.
Academic Award -
May 18
SMC Student Wins Excellence in Business Award - Bachelor's Degree
This award is given annually by SMC on the recommendation of the business faculty to a graduating senior in the BA degree program. The recipient must meet the following criteria: Completed all coursework required for graduation. Earned scores within the top 5% of their degree program. Demonstrated a commitment to excellence in learning. Contributed to a positive classroom environment. Exemplified a high standard of ethics.
Academic Award -
May 18
Pioneer Ambassador of the Year
This award will be given to a Pioneer Ambassador who has shown excellent leadership and responsibility.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
Outstanding English Student in the BA Program
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.
Academic Award -
May 18
New Community Assistants of the Year
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.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
Returning Community Assistant of the Year
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.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
Outstanding Pioneer Award
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.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
Williams-Garcia, Xvibes Member of the Year
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.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
Katherine Cann Social Sciences Award
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.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
Norma Jean Miller Scholarship Award
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.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
Chemistry Award
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.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
Psychology Award - Bachelor's Degree
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.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
Peter Aylor Psi Beta Award
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.
Academic Award -
2025 May 16
