GCS honors students, staff and schools at Salute to Education
Greenville County Schools held its annual Salute to Education banquet on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the Greenville Convention Center. This end-of-the-year celebration recognizes honor graduates from each of the district’s high schools, career centers and the Fine Arts Center. The event also highlights the outstanding accomplishments by GCS schools and staff members from throughout the year, unveils the annual GCS Partner of the Year, and celebrates the winners of the 2026 Employee of the Year program. This year’s Master of Ceremonies was Aaron Baker from WYFF4.
This year’s honorees are:
2026 Partner of the Year
2026 Employees of the Year
Assistant School Administrator of the Year - Abby Choplin, Assistant Principal, Blue Ridge High
School Support Employee of the Year - Angie Feltman, Clerk, Sterling School
District Professional Employee of the Year - Nancy Fitzer, Assistant to the Superintendent and Liaison to the Board, Administration
District Support Employee of the Year - Joyce Harris, Clerk, Benefits Department
School Administrator of the Year - Dr. Dawn Hooker, Principal, Alexander Elementary
Operations Employee of the Year - Charlie Young, Plant Engineer, Taylors Elementary
PTA/Staff/School Salutes 2025-2026
PTA
Mauldin Middle - 2024-2026 National PTA School of Excellence, National PTA Association
Stone Academy PTA - PTA Program of Impact Award, SCPTA
Amanda Scharton, Stone Academy - Creative Innovator Award, SCPTA
STAFF
Kerry Hughes, Beck International Academy - Piedmont Region Teacher to Watch, SC Association for Middle Level Education
Marci Silver, Beck International Academy - State Spirit Award, Best Buddies International
Kory Stelling, Berea High - SC Driver Education Teacher of the Year, SC Driver Teacher Safety Education Association
Ashley Wardlaw, Blue Ridge High - Secondary Principal of the Year, SC Association of School Administrators | 4A Principal of the Year, SC Athletic Administrators Association
Katie Porter, CTE Innovation Center - CTE Champion, SC Association of Career and Technical Education
Mike Wilson, Donaldson Career Center - Lifetime Service to Wrestling, High School, SC Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Robby Bell, Fountain Inn High - Region Athletic Director of the Year, SC Athletic Administrators Association
Bryan Raeckelboom, Golden Strip Career Center - SC SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year, SkillsUSA
Sarah Evanson-Atkinson, J. Floyd Hall Administrative Office - Dr. Randy Wall Distinguished Service Award, SC Association for Middle Level Education
Todd Prochaska, J.L. Mann High Academy - Travis Perry Braveheart Award, SC Athletics Administrators Association
Emily Mejia, Lifelong Learning - Adult Education Teacher Hall of Fame, SC Department of Education
Carolyn Foster, Lifelong Learning - Adult Education Administration Hall of Fame, SC Department of Education
Jim Kilgus, Mauldin Middle - Distinguished Service Award, SC Band Directors Association
Christine Plumier, Sevier Middle - Innovation in Practice Award, SC Association for Middle Level Education
Amy Moyer, Wade Hampton High - Music Educator of the Year, National Association for Music Education
Emily Cook, Washington Center - SC Transition Hall of Fame, Transition Alliance of South Carolina
All winners are pictured below with GCS Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster and Greenville Federal Credit Union Chief Operations Officer Brian Sponaugle. Students are also pictured with 2025-26 Teacher of the Year Morgan Smith.
Schools and Departments
Beck International Academy - Redesignation as a National School to Watch, National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform | Overall Top Fundraising School Chapter in the Nation, Best Buddies International
Blue Ridge High - Palmetto’s Finest School, SC Association of School Administrators
Blue Ridge Middle - Redesignation as a National School to Watch, National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform
Chandler Creek Elementary - 2024-25 National Showcase School, Capturing Kids’ Hearts
Lake Forest Elementary - John W. Harris Leadership Award, National Beta Club Organization
League Academy - Redesignation as a National School to Watch, National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform
Lifelong Learning - Adult High School Diploma Completer Award, SC Department of Education
Mauldin Middle - National School to Watch, National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform
Riverside High - State Champion, Virtual Enterprise | Speech and Debate Team State Champion, SC Forensic Coaches Association
Sevier Middle - Redesignation as a National School to Watch, National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform
Taylors Elementary - Recertified Leader in Me Lighthouse School, Franklin Covey
Tigerville Elementary - Blue Ribbon School, SC Department of Education
Woodland Elementary - Leader in Me Legacy School, Franklin Covey
Class of 2026 Honor Graduates
Berea High School
- Valery Segura ▼
- Nahomy Gil ●
- Elena Padilla
- Angelina Yoder
Blue Ridge High School
- Elizabeth Clarke ▼
- Kate Cox ●
- Luke Till
Carolina High School and Academy
- Deiny Navarro-Bonilla ▼
- Yaretzi Mesa Sanchez ●
- Jaliyah Bryant
- Aiden Gotthardt
CTE Innovation Center
- Kennedy Washington
Donaldson Career Center
- Aris Hernandez Martinez
Eastside High School
- Eric Shi ▼^
- Katie-Hays Couch ●
- Brooke Garrett
Enoree Career Center
- Kristina Zagel
Fine Arts Center
- Benjamin Webb
Fountain Inn High
- Katie Bearfield▼
- Sophie Boy ●
- Maarijka Ashworth
- Maggie Tipton
Golden Strip Career Center
- Preston Fairchild
Greenville Senior High Academy
- Laney Palmer ▼
- Cady Shive ●
- Riley Brill
- Christin Huang
Greer High School
- Kara Lynette Brown ▼
- Zelda Kinnunen ●
- Eli Weaver
Hillcrest High School
- Aubrey-Kate Watson▼
- Graycee Marlar ●
- Nisai Chea
- Dylan Goldbach
Harley Bonds Career Center
- Landon Campbell
J.L. Mann High Academy
- Nancy Hicks▼
- Ashley Ryan ●
- Prutha Deshpande
- Diya Gurav
Mauldin High School
- Luke Ten Pas ▼
- Kate Roemmich ●
- Hannah Choi
- Katelyn Cilli
Riverside High School
- Sashwath Sivaraman ▼
- Grace Qin ● *
- Jeffrey Bao
- Andrew Ning *
- Caitlin La ^
- Kenny Zalewski *
Southside High School
- Salem LaChapell ▼
- Anwitha Kandula ●
- Megan Hernandez
- Daniel Norberto
Travelers Rest High School
- Campbell Bryant ▼
- Marlee Highsmith ●
- Alannis Marant
Wade Hampton High School
- Adrienne Nelson ▼
- Katherine Guth ●
- Zach Warren
- Makeila Simpson
Woodmont High School
- Peyton Curesky ▼
- Brayden McKaig ●
- Bella Harris
- Grayson Campbell
▼ Valedictorian
● Salutatorian
* GCS Highest ACT Score
^ GCS Highest SAT Score