Unsung Hero Awards

2022 Unsung Hero Awards Winners

Unsung Hero Student Award: Rudy Wood

Bridajia "Rudy" Wood is an exceptional student who serves the college whenever asked, and she is asked often. A member of the student ambassador cabinet, she has represented the college at a State Tech Spring Institute, and she serves as a member of the Commission on Higher Ed Student Advisory Committee. A Radiologic Technology major who has achieved dean’s list status, she’s a familiar face because she has been part of many college photographs. She is a work study for Campus Life, a member of the gospel choir, and represented the college at a Greenville Triumph Soccer game.

Unsung Hero Employee Award: Marcus Mack

Marcus Mack has spent time over the past year repurposing furniture and equipment from the Admissions and Registration Center and improving working conditions in the process. He has also developed new methods of surplusing old equipment, resulting in dramatic improvements to the appearance of our campuses. A problem solver, he is always ready to take on a challenge, help his colleagues, and make the college a better place to work.

Unsung Hero Employee Award: Kim Silver

A busy college instructor and administrator, Kim Silver makes the time to contribute much more to the college and the community than what her job description entails. She serves on numerous GTC committees and can always be counted on to volunteer for extra efforts that arise. She’s affiliated with several professional organizations and helps students prepare for the next step through events including Professional Imaging Day. In the community, she serves on the board of Jasmine Road and is active with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Unsung Hero Employee Award: Lee McMinn

Lee McMinn is a go-to source of accurate information. He answers whatever question arises, helps solve problems, fixes issues, offers advice, and teaches anyone who asks how to navigate blackboard classes, customize courses, and organize gradebooks. He makes himself available to others and works to resolve whatever comes up quickly and completely. He has been instrumental in helping coworkers draft, create, and customize hybrid courses and in improving master shells that are faculty and student friendly.

Unsung Hero Employee Award: Tracy Leigh

Tracy Leigh is described as a warrior princess in the admissions area. She wears so many hats that it’s hard to pick just one thing she excels at, working directly with departments across the college to keep things running smoothly. And speaking of hats, she is also known for crocheting hats that she donates to charity, keeping many people warm in the winter. A rare combination of communicator, intellectual, and technical wizard, she brings a smile and a can-do attitude to each request -- and there are many -- always ready and willing to help others.

Unsung Hero Corporate Award: The Jolley Foundation

The Jolley Foundation has a mission very much in line with ours – of advancing efforts to eliminate the root causes and effects of poverty and discrimination. In 2019, as the African American Male Scholars Initiative was just getting started, that mission led them to make a transformative lead gift that has greatly impacted completion rates for AAMSI scholars. With their early support, the Foundation has raised over $1.3 million for the initiative, money that is helping us see significant increases in student persistence and retention. And the Jolley Foundation is one of the college’s most generous donors with gifts that support student success through scholarships, equipment, and emergency funds.