Homecoming Weekend celebration to recognize achievements in service, leadership, and lifelong commitment to Ļć½¶Šćās mission
Ļć½¶Šć will honor 10 exceptional alumni and friends of the college during theĀ 2025 Alumni Awards Ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, in Edmunds Hall as part of Homecoming festivities in Clinton.
Each year, the Alumni Association recognizes graduates and supporters who exemplify Ļć½¶Šćās values of leadership, service, and excellence. The 2025 recipients represent a broad spectrum of achievementāranging from scientific discovery and educational leadership to community service, faith-based work, and athletics.
āEach of this yearās honorees reflects the spirit of While We Live, We Serve in remarkable ways,ā said Ļć½¶Šć president Dr. Anita Gustafson. āTheir impact on their professions and communities is a testament to the character and purpose that define a Ļć½¶Šć education.ā

Gold P Award: Matt Navarro ā99
The Alumni Gold P Award recognizes alumni whose professional accomplishments bring distinction to Ļć½¶Šć.
Matt Navarro ā99 is the global president and chief executive officer of PMI Worldwide Brands, leading the renowned Stanley 1913 line of drinkware. Under his leadership, Stanley has achieved record-breaking growth and global prominence. Navarro, a veteran executive and team builder, previously held senior leadership roles at Amer Sports and continues to mentor emerging leaders in his Park City, Utah, community.
Outstanding Young Alumni: Isaiah Lynn ā15 and Dr. Jada Suber ā15
The Outstanding Young Alumnus/Alumna Award recognizes graduates age 38 or younger who demonstrate early success and strong potential for continued achievement.

Isaiah Lynn ā15, a former Blue Hose football player, co-founded Teammates, a firm that invests in communities connected to professional athletes through real estate and development. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lynn continues to merge his passions for sports and business while mentoring others.

Dr. Jada Suber ā15, a Laurens County native, began her research career at Ļć½¶Šć before earning her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Now a postdoctoral fellow at Brigham and Womenās Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Suberās work explores immune mechanisms related to allergy and disease.

Dum Vivimus Servimus Award: Jessica Jetton ā99
The Dum Vivimus Servimus Award honors alumni who live out Ļć½¶Šćās motto, While We Live, We Serve.
Jessica Jetton ā99, director of donor engagement for Help the Persecuted, has devoted nearly three decades to service in education, ministry, and nonprofit leadership. Her journey began with 15 years in public education, followed by 12 years in global ministry workāmost notably supporting AIDS relief in East Africa.
Jetton also served nearly a decade on the Ļć½¶Šć Alumni Board, including five years in leadership. A Colson Fellow and Atlanta ministry leader, she continues to connect people and causes through her deep commitment to faith and service.

Thomas Aurelius Stallworth ā55 Award: The Rev. Robert Brozina ā83
This award honors alumni who exemplify the faith, integrity, and courage of beloved Ļć½¶Šć professor Tom Stallworth ā55.
The Rev. Robert Brozina ā83, pastor of Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church, is known for his humor, humility, and unwavering dedication to justice and service. A former chaplain for the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, Brozinaās leadership reflects Stallworthās legacy of faith and friendship.

Mary F. Lehman Service Award: Dr. Kathryn Owen Hix ā00
Named for longtime Alumni Relations assistant Mary F. Lehman, this award honors outstanding service to Ļć½¶Šć and the Alumni Association.
Dr. Kathryn Owen Hix ā00 has spent more than 15 years in higher education, earning recognition as a scholar, mentor, and community leader. A former English professor and recipient of the Cowan Award for Excellence in Teaching, Hix now serves in faculty development at the University of South Carolina School of MedicineāGreenville.
A past president of the Ļć½¶Šć Alumni Association, she also serves on several civic and church boards, including the South Carolina Childrenās Theatre, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville.

Mike Turner Award: Steve ā73 and Libby Crowe
Named for longtime Scotsman Club leader Mike Turner ā48, this award recognizes exceptional dedication to Ļć½¶Šć Athletics and the Scotsman Clubās mission.
Steve ā73 and Libby Crowe have been faithful advocates for Ļć½¶Šć for decades. Steve spent 41 years with the Swagelok Company, rising to president of its international capital sales division, and now serves as Dealer Principal of Foothills Motorsports in Piedmont, South Carolina. Libby, a retired educator, has been the heart of their family and community involvement.
Together, the Crowes exemplify loyalty, leadership, and love for their alma mater and the broader Ļć½¶Šć community.

Bob Waters Award: David Phenix ā85
Established by Ļć½¶Šć and the Scotsman Club, the Bob Waters Award honors alumni who demonstrate leadership and integrity in athletic coaching.
David Phenix ā85, a former Blue Hose offensive tackle under Coach Cally Gault, was recently inducted into the Lakeside High School Sports Hall of Fame in Atlanta. After a successful career in business, Phenix dedicated 25 years to education and coaching in Georgia, guiding multiple teams to state championships.
He and his wife, Leesa, live in Loganville, Ga., where they enjoy time with their three children and two grandchildren.

Honorary Alumna Award: Susan Tallman
The Honorary Alumna Award recognizes non-graduates who have made a significant impact on Ļć½¶Šć.
Susan Tallman, a Clinton resident for nearly 30 years, has contributed her creativity, generosity, and vision to her community and to Ļć½¶Šć. A real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and co-founder of M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, she is a two-time breast cancer survivor and a tireless volunteer on local health, church, and civic boards.
Tallmanās connection to Ļć½¶Šć runs deepāher daughter, Brooke Tallman ā21, is a proud alumnaāand her service embodies the collegeās mission of compassion and integrity.
A Celebration of Legacy and Leadership
From classrooms and laboratories to boardrooms, pulpits, and playing fields, the 2025 award recipients exemplify Ļć½¶Šćās enduring mission to serve others through purpose-driven leadership.
āThese honorees remind us that the Ļć½¶Šć experience lasts far beyond the four years on campus,ā said Gustafson. āTheir achievements continue to inspire our students and strengthen our community.ā
