{"id":4612,"date":"2026-08-12T17:27:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T17:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/?post_type=furman-update&p=4612"},"modified":"2026-08-12T18:27:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T18:27:27","slug":"2027-onesc-award-winners","status":"publish","type":"furman-update","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/news\/2027-onesc-award-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"2027 OneSouthCarolina Award Winners Announced by The Riley Institute at Furman University"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR INFORMATION:
\n<\/strong>Claudia Winkler
\nDirector, Marketing and Communications
\nThe Riley Institute at Furman University
\n864.294.3368;\u00a0claudia.winkler@furman.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n

2027 OneSouthCarolina Award Winners Announced by The Riley Institute at Furman University<\/strong><\/h3>\n

GREENVILLE, S.C.<\/strong> \u2014 The Riley Institute at Furman University has announced the recipients of the 2027 OneSouthCarolina Awards, recognizing individuals and partnerships whose leadership has strengthened communities, expanded opportunity, and improved the lives of South Carolinians.<\/p>\n

The 2027 Riley-Wilkins OneSouthCarolina Legislative Leadership Award will be presented to South Carolina House Representative Chandra Dillard (District 23, Greenville). Dr. Fred Carter, president of Francis Marion University, will receive the Riley-Wilkins OneSouthCarolina Civic Leadership Award, and the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Network has been selected to receive the OneSouthCarolina Partners in Progress Award.<\/p>\n

The awards will be presented during the 2027 Riley-Wilkins OneSouthCarolina Awards Dinner on January 12, 2027, in Columbia.<\/p>\n

Recognizing Leadership That Strengthens South Carolina<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Riley-Wilkins Legislative and Civic Leadership Awards are named in honor of former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and former South Carolina Speaker of the House and U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins. Together, the awards recognize leaders whose careers reflect a commitment to public service, principled leadership, and bringing people together to solve complex challenges.<\/p>\n

“The OneSouthCarolina Awards celebrate leaders who understand that lasting progress is built through collaboration, vision, and service,” said Bryan Boroughs, executive director of The Riley Institute. “Representative Dillard, Dr. Carter, and the many partners behind the Swamp Rabbit Trail have each demonstrated that meaningful change happens when people invest in their communities and work across traditional boundaries to create opportunity for others.”<\/p>\n

As a longtime member of the South Carolina House of Representatives (since 2008) and previously as a member of Greenville City Council, Representative Chandra Dillard has earned widespread respect for her thoughtful, collaborative approach to public service. Representative Dillard serves as Deputy Minority Leader of the South Carolina House Democratic Caucus, is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and has held numerous leadership positions with the General Assembly Women’s Caucus, the Legislative Black Caucus, and the House Ethics Committee. Throughout her career as an elected leader, she has championed initiatives supporting education, economic development, healthcare, and stronger communities while building relationships across sectors to address issues affecting South Carolinians.<\/p>\n

For more than a quarter century, Dr. Fred Carter has led Francis Marion University with a vision that extends well beyond the campus gates. Under his leadership, the university has expanded educational opportunity, strengthened the region’s workforce, invested in health sciences and economic development, and helped to position Florence and the Pee Dee as a growing center for innovation and opportunity. Through strategic partnerships and a steadfast commitment to public service, Carter has demonstrated how a regional public university can serve as a catalyst for community and economic prosperity. Previously, he served on the senior staffs of Governors Campbell and Sanford, directed the State Budget and Control Board, and chaired the political science department at the College of Charleston.<\/p>\n

Celebrating Partnership and Economic Opportunity<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Network will receive the OneSouthCarolina Partners in Progress Award, which recognizes collaborative South Carolina initiatives that expand economic opportunity, bring together broad coalitions of partners, and offer a model for communities seeking to create lasting progress.<\/p>\n

What began as the transformation of a former rail corridor has become one of South Carolina’s defining examples of community-driven economic development. Through a broad coalition of public, private, nonprofit, healthcare, and community partners, the Swamp Rabbit Trail has attracted investment, strengthened local businesses, connected neighborhoods, expanded access to recreation and alternative transportation, and enhanced quality of life throughout the Upstate. Today, it serves as a model for communities seeking to leverage cross-sector partnerships to create lasting economic and community impact.<\/p>\n

“The Swamp Rabbit Trail demonstrates the extraordinary impact that can result when organizations and communities commit to a common vision,” Boroughs said. “It has become a catalyst for economic opportunity, community connection, and regional identity. Its success continues to inspire collaborative projects across South Carolina.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0###<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

About The Riley Institute at Furman University<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Riley Institute advances quality education, economic opportunity, and civic participation across South Carolina and beyond. The institute develops diverse leaders and collaborate with partners to transform the systems and policies shaping our communities, drawing on Furman\u2019s expertise, convening power, and engaged students to drive lasting change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FOR INFORMATION: Claudia Winkler Director, Marketing and Communications The Riley Institute at Furman University 864.294.3368;\u00a0claudia.winkler@furman.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2027 OneSouthCarolina Award Winners Announced by The Riley Institute at Furman University […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4615,"template":"","update-categories":[51,96,103,49,121],"class_list":["post-4612","furman-update","type-furman-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","furman-update-category-applied-public-policy","furman-update-category-civic-participation","furman-update-category-economic-opportunity","furman-update-category-furman-innovation-lab","furman-update-category-leadership-development"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/4612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/furman-update"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/4612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4619,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/4612\/revisions\/4619"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"furman-update-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/update-categories?post=4612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}