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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Upstate diversity leaders were honored Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at the 13th Annual Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner. The event, hosted by the Greenville Chamber and the Riley Institute at Furman, in partnership with Upstate Chambers, recognized organizations and individuals for outstanding achievement in promoting diversity and inclusion in Upstate South Carolina.

The 2017 award selection committee received an impressive number of nominations, which confirms that people in the Upstate continue to care about diversity issues and want to recognize those who are role models for promoting inclusivity and equality.

The event featured keynote speaker Michael Boulware Moore, President and CEO of the International African American Museum in Charleston, SC. Located on the spot where almost half of all enslaved Africans brought to the United States took their first steps in the ‘new world,’ the museum will tell the often untold stories of their history and contributions in building America. The museum is scheduled to break ground In early 2018

Michael is an experienced business executive having managed iconic global brands, led technology and consumer products companies, and served as a trusted adviser to CEOs. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the Maxwell School African American Museum Charleston, SC of Government at Syracuse University and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Awards were presented to recognize three individuals, three organizations and one K-12 school for their outstanding achievement in promoting diversity in the Upstate.

2017 Award Winners:

  • Calder D. Ehrmann Outstanding Individual Award: Darian Blue, Senior Pastor / Executive Director, Nicholtown Missionary Baptist Church. To read Darian Blue’s touching tribute to Calder and to his wife, Glenda, click here.
  • K-12 School – William “Bill” T. Wylie Valued Lives Award for School Excellence in Diversity: St Joseph’s Catholic School
  • Outstanding High School Student AwardIngrid Ramos
  • Outstanding College Student Award: Drew Copeland
  • Outstanding Nonprofit Organization Award: Speaking Down Barriers
  • Outstanding Business Award: Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P. C.
  • Outstanding Contribution to International Diversity Award: Anju Saxena