Greenville Magazine - July 2008 - (Page 56)

from the pros During the evening, awards were presented to recognize three individuals and three organizations for their outstanding diversity leadership in the region. The winners were: Calder D. ehrmann Outstanding individual: Harry Shucker, retired vice president, Furman University (award sponsored by Juan Johnson Consulting and Facilitating) Outstanding High School Student: Damaris Taylor, Greenville High School Academy (award sponsored by Bi-Lo) Outstanding College Student: LaDarius Thompson, University of South Carolina Upstate (award sponsored by Michelin North America) Outstanding non-Profit Organization: Triune Mercy Center (award sponsored by the BMW Manufacturing Co.) Outstanding Business: Walgreens Distribution Center in Anderson, S.C. (award sponsored by USC Upstate) Outstanding Contribution to international Diversity: The HispanicAmerican Women’s Association (AHAM) (award sponsored by Wachovia Bank) The Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner rotates between Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson each year. Over 500 people were on hand to honor and celebrate the award winners. Many attendees commented on the powerful remarks from Simpkins, saying they felt inspired to continue working for change and improvement in the area of diversity. In his closing comments, Simpkins said, “We have done well, especially here in the Upstate. But we can do better. We in the South have traveled a great distance. And we have realized social progress only by walking that path together. Congratulations. Get to work. Just consider the talent not in this room this evening. Men and women of all backgrounds who have determined that their futures in South Carolina are more limited than in other parts of our country and world. Our beloved Southland is still broken. Our state is broken. And when we deny to each other the basic dignity that is inherent in all human beings by refusing to recognize their worth and their talents, our spirits – and hearts – are broken.” n nEws with WYFF 4 By Beth Brotherton WYFF news 4 anchor/reporter s a news reporter, too often I have to apologize to the people I’m about to interview. “I’m sorry I had to meet you on the worst day of your life,” I tell them. Perhaps their child is missing, their house burned down or their husband was killed in Iraq. It’s my job to share their story. It’s what I do, but it’s rarely an assignment I want. My Wednesdays are different. It’s a guaranteed good day. No sickness, no sadness – just pure joy. Each week, I orchestrate a grand surprise. I plot with a school principal. Some will order cake and balloons, others will fake visits from district brass, one principal even triggered a phony fire drill for 750 students. It’s all to sneak up on the Upstate’s best teachers and reward them with a Golden Apple award. WYFF 4 began the Golden Apple Awards program 19 years ago. Over the years, we’ve honored more than 500 local educators. About a decade ago, BI-LO partnered with us to sponsor these terrific stories which air during our 5 p.m. newscast each Thursday. I’ve been blessed to be a part of the Golden Apple Awards for two years. Each teacher I meet is memorable. They act as game show hosts, rock stars and super heroes to get their students motivated. There are the ones who inspire me: the cancer patient who teaches English to young Hispanic children in Spartanburg. She only misses two days of school a month: one for chemo, one to recover. There are the ones who make me laugh: the gym teacher so loud her door and every other classroom door must be closed or she’ll drown out the whole school. She jokes that her motto is, “No Child Left on their Behind.” Then there are the ones who make me feel warm inside: the first-year teacher who spearheaded an effort to a Education with the riley institute By Cathy Stevens cElEbrating divErsity in thE upstatE – thE Fourth annual upstatE divErsity awards dinnEr he Riley Institute at Furman presented the fourth annual Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008, at the Carolina First Center. The event, which was hosted by the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce and the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements in promoting diversity in the Upstate. This year’s special guest speaker was John L. S. Simpkins, who is an assistant professor of law and director of diversity initiatives at the Charleston School of Law in Charleston, S.C. Simpkins’ address focused on the strength that comes from difference, and the need to not divide the world into “us” and “them” categories. 56 GreenviLLe MaGazine | JULY 2008 T

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Greenville Magazine - July 2008

Greenville Magazine - July 2008 Contents Editor's Letter My Greenville Alone At Last Watercooler Romance Greenwood Tourist in Your Own Town One-Tank Trips In The Lead Keeping Students In-State After Hours From the Pros A Look Back Walk this Way If These Walls Could Talk Viewpoints Attorneys The Bulletin Around Town Parting Words

Greenville Magazine - July 2008

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