Honorary Life Memberships are presented to non-alumni who support and serve the University.
Click here to see past recipients.

M. Edward Sellers is the Chairman and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina. He chairs the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, a nonprofit council of leadership in business, academia and government, whose mission is to drive long-term economic development strategy for South Carolina. The key goal of this council is to raise per capita income, primarily through educational initiatives and developing clusters. The Council is implementing this economic strategy by working with companies, government, universities, economic development organizations and other groups to create an environment where innovation can flourish. He currently lives in Columbia.

Norman J. and Gerry Sue Arnold The School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina is named for Norman J. Arnold. Thanks to a generous endowment from Norman Arnold and his wife, Gerry Sue, the Arnold School is better able to serve its students and the citizens of the state, as well as to promote the health of people whereever Carolina graduates settle. For more than two decades, the Arnolds have focused on bringing healthful ways of eating and healthier lifestyles to the citizens of South Carolina. They have donated their time and significant financial resources to public and volunteer agencies in the Palmetto State. The couple currently resides in Columbia.
 

The Young Alumni Award is presented to a graduate of the past 10 years who has excelled in his or her chosen field.  (Note: This award was known as the New Carolinian Award prior to 1989).
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Ainsley Earhardt-McKinney, '99 BA, receives the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which is presented to a graduate of the past 10 years who has excelled in his or her chosen field. McKinney is currently an anchor for Fox News Channel. She formerly worked as a news anchor for KENS 5 Eyewitness News in San Antonio, Texas. She was named Columbia Magazine’s 2004 Personality of the Year and was a former news anchor at WLTX in Columbia. She is currently living in New York City.
 

The Black Alumni Council presents this award to an alumnus or alumna distinguished in his or her chosen field.  Click here to see past recipients.

Cassandra D. Youmans, '82 BS, '87 MD, played an active role in providing clinical service as an incident commander of one of the largest special needs shelters in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and in developing the public health Katrina Recovery Plan. She was the recipient of the USC School of Medicine 2007 Humanitarian Alumni Award and was featured in New Orleans City Business News Magazine as a minority New Orleanean who has made a difference in the community through their energy, ideas and commitment to excellence. She was listed in Augusta Magazine’s 2006 Success Guide as one of the most influential and successful women in the Central Savannah River Area. Dr. Youmans currently serves as the District Health Director for the East Central Health District. She resides in Martinez, GA.

Named for the great humanitarian and philanthropist, Algernon Sydney Sullivan. After his death, the Southern Society, based in New York, set up the award and each year allows each Southern university or college to make the award to an outstanding alumnus who has given service to his fellow man beyond that required by his job or profession.  Click here to see past recipients.

Hal H. Crosswell Jr., '56 BS, '60 MD,  was the 2006 recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor. He is an ophthalmologist with the Columbia Eye Center for more than 30 years and has participated in numerous international mission trips to provide eye and other medical care to those in need. Dr. Crosswell currently resides in Columbia.
 

The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna who has exemplified professional leadership, productive citizenship, and devotion to the University.
Click here to see prior recipients.

C. Edward Floyd, '56 BS, '60 MD, is a former Chairman of the USC Board of Trustees, serving on the Board since 1982. In December 2006, he addressed the United Nations General Assembly as a United States delegate. He also serves on a number of boards and supports higher education through his monetary gifts for scholarships and buildings. Dr. Floyd was named the Business Person of the Year by the Florence Chamber of Commerce in 2006. Among the many gifts made to his alma mater, he and his wife Kay endowed the Kay B. and Eddie Floyd Football Building at Williams Brice Stadium. Floyd currently lives in Florence, SC.

Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, '47 JD, was South Carolina’s governor from 1959-63 and served in the United States Senate from 1966-2005. Earlier in his career he was a member of the South Carolina House from 1949-55 and was Lieutenant Governor from 1955-59. Among his many accolades and awards, he was also the recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award in 1982. In 1991, he selected Carolina as the repository for his personal papers, which led directly to the creation of the Modern Political Collections division of the South Caroliniana Library. The collections have grown in volume and importance over the years. As a result, the unit was renamed South Carolina Political Collections and made an independent unit of the University Libraries in July of 2005. Hollings is currently retired and residing in Charleston, SC.

Marva Smalls, '77 BA, '82 MPA, was recently named the Executive Vice President of Global Inclusion Strategy for MTV and also serves as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff for the Nickelodeon/MTV Network Kids and Family Group. Among the initiatives Smalls has led was the development of Nickelodeon’s strategies to combat the growing obesity epidemic among children. She spearheaded The Big Help, which encouraged and empowered more than 40 million children to pledge more than 380 million hours of volunteer service to their communities. She is also the founder of Carolina’s first NAACP student chapter. Smalls lives in Florence, SC.