2020 Recipients: Sam Hayes and Alexis Wood

Sam Hayes

Sam Hayes, the inaugural co-winner of the Paula Harper Bethea Civic Engagement Award, hails from the Holy City. Using his stellar intellect, stalwart commitment to social justice, and unparalleled passion for historic preservation, he assisted in the effort to preserve the McLaren Medical Shelter, a facility that treated African-American patients during the Jim Crow period. His efforts grew out of class projects and internships. Tonight, we honor Sam Hayes, a young man who has already made an impact in Greenville in the same way as the namesake of this award has done for South Carolina.

Alexis Wood

When Alexis Wood is in your classroom, she catalyzes you to do better.  She brings an engaging curiosity to learn, and depth of experiential knowledge acquired from her contributions to the communities she serves.  Whether its tutoring at-risk students, helping poor people gain access to justice with the Public Defender’s Office, or assisting victims of human trafficking with the United States Attorney’s Office or the Justicia Project, she is serious about her service. Alexis uses her excellent Spanish language skills and intellectual gifts to help the people that need her help the most.  She is a treasure.