Alumni Awards

Alumni AWARDS

Recognizing Those Who Set Themselves Apart

One of the great joys of being part of an independent school community is the opportunity to celebrate the successes of fellow alumni.  Porter-Gaud is fortunate to have so many in our community who have set themselves apart in their respective fields and communities.  We take the opportunity to celebrate these successes through awards and recognition, but also understand that those listed below represent a small piece of the vast number of successful alumni in our community.  We are honored to call them Cyclones!

Alumni Award Categories

Porter-Gaud gives three awards annually to members of our alumni community.  Each has specific criteria to identify those who best represent the ideals that Porter-Gaud values most in our students and alumni.  The following explains each award and names those who have been honored in the past.

 

The George B. Buell Cup

The George B. Buell Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award recognizes a graduate of Porter-Military Academy, The Gaud School, The Watt School or Porter-Gaud School who has demonstrated dedicated service and contribution to the school. The award is named for Col. George B. Buell, Class of 1917. This award honors life achievements, integrity and honesty, as well as continued contributions to Porter-Gaud School.

While a high percentage of alumni have distinguished themselves in their careers and in their communities, this award seeks to honor those who continue to work to make Porter-Gaud an excellent school. All alumni are invited to submit candidates for the award in keeping with the tradition of excellence and service to Porter-Gaud School represented by its previous recipients.


PAST RECIPIENTS

1996 Berkeley Grimball, PMA 1940
1997 Greswold “Bill” Gwynette, PMA 1932
1998 John F. Maybank, GS 1963
1999 Walter Leroy Wooten, PMA 1942
2001 James Stelling, PG 1968
2002 Tom Ilderton, PMA 1957
2003 Bill Stack, PMA 1939
2004 Flip Chevrier, PMA 1950
2005 Lawton Grimball, PG 1972
2006 Maxwell Reed Mowry, GS 1962
2007 Lucian Russell Rawls, PMA 1944
2008 Bill Allen, PMA 1963
2010 Katherine W. Simons, PG 1983
2011 Elizabeth Cook Blanchard, PG 1980
2012 Rev. Brian K. McGreevy, PG 1974
2013 David M. Hay, PG 1977
2014 W. Benjamin “Ben” Hutto GS 1964
2015 Winn S. Tutterow, PG 1977
2017 John Edward Buxton, PG 1985
2018 Paul Herring, PG 1982
2019 Tommy Appleby, PG 1977
2023 W. Melvin Brown III, PG 1987
2024 Greer Polansky Vaughan, PG 1988

*Nominees must be graduates of Porter-Military Academy, The Gaud School, The Watt School or Porter-Gaud School
*Self-nominations are welcome
*Posthumous nominations will not be considered.
The Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni Award honors a graduate of Porter-Gaud School who, over time, has made a meaningful impact to their community, industry or profession. This distinction could reflect a broad range of contributions or service in a particular area.

*Nominees must be graduates of Porter-Military Academy, The Gaud School, The Watt School or Porter-Gaud School
*Self-nominations are welcome
*Posthumous nominations will not be considered.

Past Recipients

2023 Faith Rivers James, PG 1983
2024 James McKim, PG 1979
The Young Alumni Award

The Young Alumni Award recognizes a young alumnus or alumna of Porter-Gaud School who serves as a role model by demonstrating concern for and service to their community, industry, or profession. Young Alumni are those who have graduated from Porter-Gaud School within the past twenty years.

*Nominees must be graduates of Porter-Gaud School
*Self-nominations are welcome
*Posthumous nominations will not be considered.

Past Recipients

2023 Drew G. McKenzie, PG 2007
2024 Amy B. Cheng, PG 2005

 

 

Alumni Award Nomination Form

If you know of someone who you believe is a good candidate for an alumni award, please fill out the form below. The nomination deadline for the 2025 alumni awards is Friday, November 15. Awards will be given during the upcoming Alumni Weekend which will be held April 25-27, 2025.

Nominations for Alumni Awards have closed for this year.  We will open them up again after Alumni Weekend 2025.