Alumni, family and friends gathered for the Wofford community’s biggest celebration of the fall, Homecoming, Nov. 2-4. The college’s alumni association recognized four graduates for leadership and service.
Dr. Nicole Redmond ’96 received the Pride of Wofford Award, which is presented to a member of the Wofford College Alumni Association who has brought honor and distinction to the college through outstanding professional achievement. Redmond is chief of the Clinical Applications and Prevention Branch within the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. As a medical officer in the branch since 2016, Redmond has developed an extensive portfolio in cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment, with interests in the importance of community engagement and addressing structural and social determinants of health to mitigate health disparities. She also has a strong commitment to mentoring and career development, particularly for clinician-scientists and groups underrepresented in biomedical research. Dr. Jameica Hill ’88 presented the award and accepted on Redmond’s behalf.
Jim Hackney ’77,P ’04 received the Charles H. Gray ’72 Distinguished Service Award for exhibiting dedicated service and commitment to the college. He graduated from Yale Divinity School in 1979 and served Wofford for eight years in the Office of Advancement. His fundraising career included stops at the Mint Museum and Alexander Haas, where he helped clients raise over $2 billion. The U.S. State Department appointed Hackney as an arts envoy to Greece in 2011. Hackney is currently on the Reynolda House National Advisory Council, a trustee of the Penland School of Craft and a member of Wofford’s President’s Advisory Council. Hackney and his husband, Scott Haight, sponsor the Hackney Haight Fellowship at Wofford for a studio art major to attend a summer workshop at Penland each year. Hackney has two children, John ’04 and Ann. The Hackneys have established the Hackney Family Endowed Scholarship Fund to increase diversity at Wofford. The award was presented by David Beacham ’77.
The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented to a member of the community who has served a distinguished career and has contributed extraordinary service to humanity, reflecting honor upon both the recipient and Wofford College. This year’s winner was Gary McCraw ’77, P ’09. McCraw received degrees from Spartanburg Methodist College, Wofford College and the University of South Carolina, where he earned a master’s of music in piano performance. He has been employed by Wofford College since 1982 and received full professorship in 2018. He teaches the history of American music, music appreciation, world music and music theory. McCraw conducts Men’s Glee Club, Concert Band and Wofford Singers. He has been affiliated with the Spartanburg Little Theater for 50 years, serving as pianist and director for 72 shows. He has been in church music ministries for 53 years, 37 of them at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he serves as organist, pianist, choir director and handbell choir director. McCraw will retire at the end of the academic year. Brandi Lorenz ’95 presented the award.
Catherine Codispoti ’03 received the Rising Star Award, which is presented to members of the Wofford College Alumni Association who have demonstrated professional accomplishment and continued growth as emerging leaders in their communities. Codispoti assumed the role of senior vice president and chief people officer at Mercy in St. Louis, Missouri, on Dec. 1. Mercy is one of the largest health systems in the United States, with over 50 hospitals and 50,000 employees across a seven-state region. Previously, Codispoti served as executive vice president and chief people officer at Children’s National Hospital. Codispoti is active in many professional and leadership organizations, including CHIEF (a membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders) and CNBC Workforce Executive Council. She has been recognized on several lists, including Washington Business Journal’s “40 under 40,” and Women We Admire’s “Top 100 Women in Medicine” and “Outstanding Mothers of 2022.” Tori Swanson ’03 presented the award.
In addition to reunions for classes ending in 3 and 8, Homecoming weekend also included milestone reunions for Wofford’s chapters of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. There also was a reunion of show choir alumni, who performed the alma mater before the football game.
CLASSES COMPETE FOR OLD MAIN CUP
Wofford’s Office of Philanthropy + Engagement sponsored a friendly competition for reunion classes during Homecoming 2023. The Old Main Cup consisted of three challenges:
The Bellringer Bucket went to the Class of 1993 for having the highest reunion attendance percentage. The award was named in recognition of the college bell, housed in the left tower of Main Building. The bell tolls three times for every Wofford graduate: after Opening Convocation for each first-year student, at Commencement for each graduate, and on All Saints Day for each graduate in the year of their death.
The Class of 1983 won the Papadopoulos Platter for raising the most dollars. Dr. Gus Papadopoulos ’54 was the first Wofford graduate to give more than $1 million to the college. He was often quoted as saying, “Whatever I have, I owe to Wofford.”
The Beneficent Bowl was awarded to the Class of 2013 for having the highest participation percentage. As the tradition goes, students rub the “I” on the plaque in Main Building for luck, leaving their mark on Wofford. The award recognizes a class for leaving its mark on the college through collective giving.
Winners received a champagne treat in their reunion tent and a special visit from Nayef and Prema Samhat.
