GCS honors partners, students and staff at Salute to Education
Greenville County Schools held its annual Salute to Education banquet on Thursday, May 8, 2025 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 2025 Employee of the Year program. This year’s Master of Ceremonies was Sydney Shadrix from WYFF4.
This year’s honorees are:
2025 Partner of the Year
Public Education Partners
2025 Employees of the Year
District Support Employee of the Year - Vonnie Brownlee, Service Center Representative, Communications
Assistant School Administrator of the Year - Kate Canterbury, Administrative Assistant, Chandler Creek Elementary
District Professional Employee of the Year - Sammy Dixon, Intervention Specialist, Student Services
School Support Employee of the Year - Lonie Graham, Secretary, J. Harley Bonds Career Center
School Administrator of the Year - Jeff Jenkins, Principal, Ralph Chandler Middle
Operations Employee of the Year - Shane Windham, Director, Maintenance Operations
School/PTA/Staff Salutes 2024-2025
PTA
Crystal Dix, Beck International Academy - Support Staff of the Year 23-24, SC PTA
Jennifer Meisten, Beck International Academy - Middle School Principal of the Year 23-24, SC PTA
Ryan Streetman, Robert E. Cashion Elementary - Elementary School Principal of the Year 23-24, SC PTA
Sterling School Charles Townes Center - SC Local Unit of the Year 23-24, SC PTA
Fork Shoals School - National PTA School of Excellence, National PTA
Ralph Chandler Middle - National PTA School of Excellence, National PTA
STAFF
Denise Thomas, Augusta Circle Elementary - Hall of Fame, SC Music Educators
Carlon Grey, Beck International Academy - Mary Whyte Art Educator Award, SC Arts Education Association
Staci Purvis, Berea Elementary - Distinguished Service to SCAEA Award, SC Arts Education Association
Abby Cook, Blue Ridge High - Braveheart Award, SC Athletic Administrators Association
Linda Dara, Cherrydale Elementary - SC Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program’s Educator of the Month March 2025, SC Treasurer Curtis Loftis
David Craig, Eastside High - SC Girls Soccer Head Coach, Clash of the Carolinas, SC Athletic Coaches Association
Jack Kosmicki, Eastside High - National Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee, SC Chapter of National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Hank Hill, J. Harley Bonds Career Center - 2024 Teacher of the Year, SC Health Science Educators
Anna Barker, Lakeview Middle - Upstate Librarian of the Year, SC Association of School Librarians
Katie Martin, Lakeview Middle - 2024 Teacher of the Year, SC Association of Conservation Districts
Weyland Burns, Lifelong Learning - Adult Education Director of the Year, SC Association of School Administrators
James Maciejewski, Mauldin High - South Carolina’s “Tomorrow’s 25 Coaches,” SC Athletic Coaches Association
Brittany Stikeleather, Mauldin Middle - Regional Teacher to Watch, SC Association for Middle Level Educators
Jasmyn Jeffers, Mauldin Middle - Promising Educator to Watch, SC Association for Middle Level Educators
Jeff Jenkins, Ralph Chandler Middle - Dr. Randy Wall Distinguished Service Award, SC Association for Middle Level Educators
Monica Fite, Sevier Middle - Innovative Educator Award, SC Association for Middle Level Educators
Tera Johns, Sevier Middle - Innovative Educator Award, SC Association for Middle Level Educators
Cathy Poole, Transportation - Special Needs Transportation Award, National Association of Pupil Transportation
Schools and Departments
Berea Elementary - Arts in Basic Curriculum Certificate, ABC Institute
Blue Ridge High - SC-SIC Honor Roll and Finalist, SC School Improvement Council
Mauldin Middle - SC-SIC Honor Roll, SC School Improvement Council
Chandler Creek Elementary - 2023-24 National Showcase School, Capturing Kids’ Hearts
Dr. Phinnize Jr. Fisher Middle - Schools to Watch Re-Designation 2025-28, The National Forum Advancing Excellence in the Middle Grades
Northwood Middle - Schools to Watch Re-Designation for 2025-28, The National Forum AdvancingExcellence in the Middle Grades
GCS Facilities and J.L. Mann High Academy - Field of the Year, Stadium Game Field, SC Sports Field Managers Association
Fine Arts Center - Community Partnership Award, Arts Schools Network
Greer High - Highest Reported Work-Based Learning Qualifiers in the State, SC Department of Education
Greer High - 2024 America’s Healthiest Schools, Alliance for Healthier Generation
Westcliffe Elementary - 2024 America’s Healthiest Schools, Alliance for Healthier Generation
Mauldin High - Go Lime Green: Mental Health Matters Spirit Award, National Alliance on Mental Illness SC
Riverside High - 2024 State Champion, Virtual Enterprise
Riverside High - School of Excellence Award, National Speech and Debate Association
Riverside High - 2025 State Champion, SC Forensic Coaches Association
Roper Mountain Science Center - Jerry L. Shrum Leadership in Education Award, SC Project Learning Tree
Sevier Middle - RAMP Re-Designation, American School Counselors Association
Simpsonville Elementary - 2024 Leader in Me Lighthouse Academic Honor Roll, Franklin Covey
Southside High - Heart Safe School, Project Adam
Westcliffe Elementary - Lifetime Giving Award, American Heart Association
Westcliffe Elementary - Robotics Team, Challenge Solutions Award, FIRST™ Lego Championship
All winners are pictured below with GCS Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster and Greenville Federal Credit Union Chief Operations Officer Brian Sponaugle. Student winners are also pictured with 2024-25 GCS Teacher of the Year Chelsey Troutman.
Class of 2025 Honor Graduates
Berea High School
- Landon Carter Hubbard*
- Elisa Gaspar-Miguel
- Kenny Minh Nguyen
Blue Ridge High School
- Holly Adelle Jordan*
- Addison Leigh Reid
- Catherine Lynn Rafferty
Carolina High School and Academy
- Hanna John Elias Deeb*
- Andrea Michelle Gonzalez-Martinez
- Bella Valentina Cortes
- Tanner Garrett Reid
CTE Innovation Center
- Julianna Marie Larsen
Donaldson Career Center
- Jacqueline Cezati-Sanchez
Eastside High School
- Leran Fu*
- Ellie Kristina Farmer
- Marshall Scott Reed
- Bailey Kimberly Talbot
Enoree Career Center
- Brendan Tyler Davis
Fine Arts Center
- William Matthew Armstrong
Fountain Inn High
- Cole Meade Gibbs*
- Emma Jordyn Weathers
- Campbell Elizabeth Ballard
- Jayce Alexander Bak
Golden Strip Career Center
- Hanna Ruth Zentz
Greenville Senior High Academy
- Margaret Alice Rowan*
- Erin Leah Helsel
- Kathryn Harper McCall
- Miles Carson McGregor
- Rigdon Wayne Hynum+
Greer High School
- Emily McKenna Major*
- Eliana Mae Lister
- Annelie Nora Jones
Hillcrest High School
- Jocelyn Sloan Danciu*
- Meghan Savannah Huebner
- William Matthew Armstrong
- Colton William Cline
Harley Bonds Career Center
- Evan Mahan Voege
J.L. Mann High Academy
- Lillian Elizabeth Villiger*
- Nicholas Antonio Cabrera
- Eleni Sophia Cole
- Laura Lozano
Mauldin High School
- Sara Elise Bloomingburg*
- Evan Patrick Lawton
- Daniella Yaffa Bieneman
- Srinidhi Thammana
Riverside High School
- Kai Tobias Tucker*+
- Morgan Ashely Kay
- Farah Firas Al-Damook#
- Jeffrey Jiayou Yu
- Heekyung Lindsey Park+
Southside High School
- Amy Izela Banegas Diaz*
- Riya Manan Kot
- Giselle Teresa Lewers
- Michelle Alvarado Mendez
Travelers Rest High School
- Michael McDuffie Hawkins*
- Peyton Joshua White
- Charles Elliott Rogers
Wade Hampton High School
- Owen Thomas Rojas*+
- Lillie Elizabeth Markel
- Jadyn Liana-Joy Burton
- Brooke Elizabeth Gillen
Woodmont High School
- Ashlyn Nicole Sellars*
- Samantha Rose Jeter
- Derek Vannarith Hoeung
- Ryan James Michenfelder
*Valedictorian
#Highest SAT Score
+Highest ACT Score
