MARCH 25, 2008 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

SMC Alums To Be Honored This Weekend

Spartanburg Sheriff Chuck Wright To Receive Alumni Of The Year Award

SPARTANBURG, SC – Several hundred alumni are expected to return to the Spartanburg Methodist College campus the weekend of March 28-29 for the College’s annual Alumni Weekend during which three alumni awards will be presented.

The following awards will be presented during an awards luncheon being held on Saturday at 11:30 am in Bridges Arena:

Heather Waldrep (SMC Class of 1998, Associate in Arts) will be presented the Young Alumnus of the Year Award. She works as a recreational therapist for the Greenville Hospital System and is certified with the national council for therapeutic recreation. Waldrep and her husband Josh live in Greer and have one daughter.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright (SMC Class of 2002, Associate in Criminal Justice) will be presented the Alumni of the Year Award. Wright began his career with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office in 1986 and was elected sheriff in 2004. He and his wife Kim live in Spartanburg and have four sons.

The Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Spartanburg County residents Fletcher (Textile Industrial Institute Class of 1941, Associate in Arts) and Ruth Thompson (Spartanburg Junior College, Class of 1942).  The Thompsons are longstanding supporters of the College and its programs.

Fletcher Thompson served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 1991 to 2003 and currently serves as a member of the Spartanburg Methodist Paralegal Certificate Advisory Committee. Thompson is retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, having served the agency for 33 years. He currently serves as senior partner at The Law Office of Fletcher D. Thompson, LLC  in Spartanburg, in the field of adoption and probate law.

Ruth Thompson spent her career as a stay-at-home mother and doing volunteer work with her church and civic organizations.

The Thompsons have four children and nine grandchildren.

“The Spartanburg Methodist College Office of Alumni Relations is honored to present these awards to Heather Waldrep, Chuck Wright and Fletcher and Ruth Thompson in recognition of their continued commitment to both the community and this institution,” says Leah Pruitt, SMC Director of Alumni Relations.

The awards are based on outstanding service and/or support to SMC, as well as career accomplishments. The SMC Alumni Council approves the award winners.

Events scheduled during Alumni Weekend are as follows:

Friday, March 28
Location:  The Phyllis Buchheit Board Room and The Vassey Information Technology Center

• 6:00 – 6:30 pm - State of the College Address by Dr. Teague & SMC Alumni Reception (No Charge)
• 6:30 – 7:00 pm - Group Campus Tours led by SMC Ambassadors
• 7:15 – 8:15 pm - Jazz Concert, Thad Tinsley '85, classical guitar jazz musician

Saturday, March 29:

Location:  James S. Barrett Learning Center

• 10:00 – 11:15 am - Registration
• 10:00 – 11:30 pm - Silent Auction
• 11:30 am – 12:45 pm - Awards Luncheon ($15 per person for meal)
• 1:00 – 4:00 pm - Baseball Game vs. Pitt Community College (doubleheader)
• 1:00 – 4:00 pm - Softball Game vs. USC Salkehatchie (doubleheader)
• 1:00 – 5:00 pm - Class Reunions at various campus locations

Spartanburg Methodist College is in its 97th year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.

For further information contact Leah Pruitt, Director of Alumni Relations, at (864) 587-4225 or Brian Fulkerson, Director of Public Information, at (864) 587-4254.

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