Six Upstate Individuals and Organizations recognized with the 19th Annual Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards

FOR INFORMATION:
Megan Campbell
864-239-3745
mcampbell@greenvillechamber.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SIX UPSTATE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZED WITH THE 19TH ANNUAL UPSTATE DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

GREENVILLE, S.C. — On Tuesday, October 31st, the Greenville Chamber and The Riley Institute at Furman University presented the 2023 recipients of the Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards during the Greenville Chamber’s 6th Annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit.

Now in its 19th year, the Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards program honors outstanding individuals and organizations throughout the Upstate community for achievement in promoting diversity and inclusion.

The 2023 Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards recipients are:

• K-12 School: William “Bill” T. Wylie Valued Lives Award for School Excellence – Wade Hampton High School
• Outstanding High School Student – Etta Smith
• Outstanding College Student – Jaimeen Shah
• Outstanding Nonprofit Organization – BEST Skills Academy
• Outstanding Business – Natural Balance Holistic Health
• Calder D. Ehrmann Outstanding Individual – Norma Jean Suarez

The Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards originated as part of a capstone project in the 2004 Upstate Class of the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative. This group of Riley Fellows shared a vision to create an annual event to honor outstanding individuals and organizations in the Upstate who are making a positive difference through diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

“It is an honor to provide a platform to celebrate and recognize these true diversity leaders,” said Carlos Phillips, Greenville Chamber President/CEO. He adds, “More than anything, these individuals serve as a reminder that we each possess the ability to drive positive community impact despite the obstacles we face.”

“It’s amazing to me that nearly 20 years ago, a group of Riley Fellows saw the need to celebrate a commitment to advancing diversity efforts. Two decades later, this type of work has only grown in importance, and we are so honored to stand alongside the Chamber in recognizing leading diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in our community,” said Don Gordon, Executive Director of The Riley Institute.

This was the first celebration of its kind in the state to recognize individuals and organizations for their accomplishments in uplifting diversity in the Upstate.

Learn more about the award winners here: https://www.greenvillechamber.org/blog/2023/10/31/diversity-inclusion/leaders-recognized-with-the-19th-annual-upstate-diversity-leadership-awards/.

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ABOUT THE GREENVILLE CHAMBER

The Greenville Chamber, now in its 135th year of operation, is the largest business organization in Upstate South Carolina with more than 1900 Investors supporting the vision of a globally competitive Upstate economy where businesses succeed, and people prosper. For information, visit greenvillechamber.org.

ABOUT FURMAN UNIVERSITY’S RILEY INSTITUTE

Furman University’s Riley Institute advances social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond by building leadership for a diverse society, broadening student and community perspectives on critical issues, hosting expert speakers, supporting public education, and creating knowledge through community solutions-focused research. It is committed to nonpartisanship in all it does and to a rhetoric-free, facts-based approach to change. For information, visit furman.edu/riley .