Alumni

Alumni Directory

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Alumni Association

The GSSM Alumni Association provides opportunities for alumni to stay connected and to support the School. In addition to numerous networking opportunities - whether social, professional, or educational - the Association also offers an opportunity to give back through participation in the classroom as mentors, speakers, panelists, on alumni boards and committees, and by attending programs and events.  We recognize that alumni voices are crucial to showing current and future GSSM students their options and potential. 

At GSSM, we make a special effort to reach out to our graduates wherever they are.  Alumni can create a profile in our Alumni Directory. This online feature is a free, password-protected way to connect with your classmates, find other Govies in your geographic area or career field, and update your contact information. Alumni can also check out the GSSM Alumni Facebook Page, where school and alumni news is posted regularly.

GSSM graduates around the world maintain their connection to the School through the Alumni Association.  Be in charge of your future and stay connected with us!

2022-2023 Alumni Association Board Members

• Ehsan Benrashid '02
• Will Billbrough '18
• Adam Brannon '96
• Angela Crum '96
• Britt Garris '95
• Kristin Garris '90, Past President
• Matt Hands '91, President
• Melody Drummond Hansen '96
• Tyler Harvey '11
• Rusty Hawes '14
• Darby Kirven '08
• Susan Lucas Kamat '90
• Makaala Mazat '91
• Paul Moore '90
• Victoria Phelan '13
• Alex Sizemore '16
• Justin Smith '16
• Eric Spivey '93
• Emmanuel Tedder '04
• Danna Vach '90
• Avis Wright '95

Ex Officio

• Brigitte Chapman '94, Director of Alumni Relations
• Shane Farmer '10, Analytics & Development Manager
• Beth Dinndorf, GSSM Foundation Executive Director
• Danny Dorsel '90, GSSM President
• Dr. Elaine Parshall, GSSM Faculty Representative
• Dr. Cathy Thomas, Dean of Students
• Dr. Jennifer Blair, Director of College Counseling and Advising

By-Laws

ARTICLE I: Name

The name of the organization is the South Carolina Governor's School for Science + Mathematics Alumni Association.

ARTICLE II: Office

Headquarters of the Alumni Association shall be located in the South Carolina Governor's School for Science + Mathematics (GSSM) Foundation office, in the City of Columbia and County of Richland, State of South Carolina. The Alumni Association may also maintain offices at such other places as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine.

ARTICLE III: Purpose

The general purpose of the Alumni Association is to support the mission of GSSM; provide fellowship for alumni; maintain a relationship between the alumni body and the School; generate community awareness through alumni; and to support the financial welfare and development of GSSM.

ARTICLE IV: Membership

Section A: Voting Members. All graduates of the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science + Mathematics shall be eligible for full voting membership in the Alumni Association. The procedure for admission to membership shall be as provided in the by-laws.

Section B: Honorary Members. Honorary membership shall consist of those persons who are not alumni of the School and who fall into one of these categories:

Former SCGSSM students; Parents and family of alumni and former students; Members and former members of School faculty, staff and administration; Member of the governing boards of SCGSSM; or Individuals who are elected to honorary membership by a three-fourths vote of those present at any duly constituted meeting of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors or at the annual meeting of members.

 

Section D: Governance. Chapters will be under the jurisdiction of the GSSM Alumni Association By-Laws. Any additional guidelines created for governance of the chapter shall be subject to the approval of ¾ membership of the full alumni board.

Section E: Chapter Presidents. Chapter presidents will be considered ex-officio members of the Alumni Board Membership Committee and will submit either in writing or in person reports on club activity at the quarterly board meetings.

ARTICLE X: Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Alumni Association shall commence July 1 and terminate June 30.

ARTICLE XI: Procedure

At all meetings of the Alumni Association, the Board and the Executive Committee, the conduct of said meeting shall be in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws.

ARTICLE XII: Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at a duly constituted and convened meeting of the Alumni Association; provided, however, that no proposed amendment to these By-Laws may be voted upon at a meeting unless the exact language therein shall have been submitted to the Board not less than thirty days prior to the date of the meeting.

ARTICLE XIII: Privileges

Members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all annual and special meetings of the Alumni Association, shall receive reasonable advance notice of such meetings, and shall receive the publications and the annual report of the activities of the Alumni Association.

Section B: Other Committees. The President or the Board shall appoint the Chair(s) of such other committees as they may deem appropriate.

ARTICLE IX: Chapters

Section A: Purpose. The purpose of GSSM alumni chapters is to foster continued “Govie” spirit among GSSM alumni and friends regardless of residence after graduation.

Section B: Membership. Chapter membership will be composed of all voting and non-voting members of the Alumni Association.

Section C: Establishment. Upon a majority vote, the Board can designate the creation and operation of chapter groups of the Alumni Association. In order to qualify for establishment, the chapter should meet the following criteria:

At least 10 alumni living within a 50-mile radius of the central city designated as the Chapter host city. A designated chapter president and a core leadership team of 2 additional members.

Ex-officio members shall be non-voting members, except for the immediate past president who is still serving an active term as a general member of the Board.

ARTICLE VIII: Committees

Section A: Standing Committees. The President shall appoint the Chair(s) of the following standing committees from among the Board members:

Programming and Development Awards Membership and Engagement

• The Alumni Association’s immediate past president.

Section G: Ex-Officio Members. The Foundation’s Director of Alumni Relations shall also serve as Executive Secretary of the Alumni Association. The Director of Alumni Relations shall be the chief administrative officer of the Alumni Association and shall be charged with the duty of carrying out the orders of the Board and the policies of the Alumni Association as set forth in these By-Laws. The Director of Alumni Relations shall report to and receive advice from the Chief Executive Officer, the Alumni Association’s Officers and Board of Directors. In addition, the following are ex-officio members:

The Executive Director of the GSSM Foundation; The President of GSSM; The Faculty Representative; The Staff Representative; The Representative from the Student Council; and

Section H: Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Board occurring by reason of an increase in the number of Board members, or by reason of the death, resignation, disqualification, removal or inability to act of any Board member, or otherwise, shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by a majority vote of the remaining Board members, though less than a quorum, at any meeting of the Board called for that purpose.

Section I: Resignation. Any Board member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the President or the Secretary of the Alumni Association. Unless otherwise specified in such written notice, such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Alumni Association or such officer, and the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section J: Removal. Any Board member may be removed for cause at any time by the members of the Alumni Association at a special meeting of the Alumni Association called for that purpose and may be removed for cause by action of the Board. A Board member who shall be absent from three consecutive meetings of the Board, shall be considered to have given cause for his removal unless said absence is satisfactorily explained.

Section K: Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board which shall be composed of the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary, the Parliamentarian, the Chairs of standing committees, the Immediate Past President of the Alumni Association, and the Executive Secretary. During the intervals between meetings of the Board, the Executive Committee shall be empowered to transact business for the Alumni Association, provided, however, that all actions of the Executive Committee shall be subject to review of the Board.

Section L: Committees. The Board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board, may from time to time designate from among its members such committees as they deem desirable with such powers and authorities as may be provided in such resolution. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.

ARTICLE VII: Officers

Section A: Election. The officers of the Alumni Association shall be elected immediately after the election of the members of the Board. The President-Elect shall be elected from among and by the active members of the Board of Directors with at least two years remaining on their term. Each officer shall be elected for a term of one year. Except for the Treasurer and Secretary, no officer shall be eligible to succeed himself in said office. Both the newly elected officers and Board members will officially assume office on July 1 of the year of their election.

Section B: Term. Each officer shall hold office until the election and qualification of his successor, or until his death, resignation or removal.

Section C: Resignation. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice of such resignation to the Board or to the President or Secretary of the Alumni Association. Unless otherwise specified in such written notice, such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Board or by such officer, and the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section D: Removal. Any officer may be removed for cause, and a successor elected by the Board at any time.

Section E: Vacancies. A vacancy in any office by reason of death, resignation, inability to act, disqualification, or any other cause, may at any time be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board. These vacancies shall be filled at a special meeting of the Board called for that purpose within 90 days of the creation of the vacancy or, if a regular meeting of the Board shall occur before 90 days after the creation of the vacancy, then at that meeting.

Section F: Duties. Officers of the Alumni Association shall, unless otherwise provided by the Board, each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices as well as such powers and duties as are hereinafter set forth in these By-Laws, or as may from time to time be specifically conferred or imposed by the Board.

President: The President shall act as Chairman and shall preside at all meetings of the Alumni Association, of the Board and of the Executive Committee. The President shall preserve order, enforce the By-Laws of the Alumni Association, direct and appoint all committees, appoint a parliamentarian, and be an ex-officio member of all committees. The President shall not be entitled to vote except at the annual meeting of the Alumni Association and for the election of officers, and, in the event that the votes on any other matter are equally divided, the President shall cast the deciding vote. The President shall make an annual written report to the Alumni Association. President-Elect: The President-Elect shall act in the place of the President during the absence or disability of the President. Secretary: The Secretary shall record all business proceedings of the Alumni Association, of the Board and of the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall be the custodian of all documents and records of the Alumni Association not otherwise provided for, and at the expiration of the Secretary's tenure, the Secretary shall promptly surrender the same to the Secretary's successor. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be the fiscal officer of the Alumni Association. Under the direction of the Board, the Treasurer shall collect and disburse all funds of the Alumni Association. The Treasurer shall have custody of all properties of the Alumni Association except as otherwise specifically allocated to another custodian. The Treasurer shall keep true and exact account of all such property, monies and receipts for disbursements, and of the expenditure of any money entrusted to him. The Treasurer shall, at all reasonable times, exhibit books of account to the Executive Council. The Treasurer shall also submit a written report at the annual meeting of the Alumni Association. Parliamentarian: The Parliamentarian will serve as the member responsible for ensuring that the Board of Directors for GSSM’s Alumni Association are adhering to the By-Laws of the Board. They should also have a working order on Robert’s Rules of Order and will assist the President in the orderly running of meetings. The Parliamentarian will chair an ad hoc committee annually to review the By-Laws.

Section E: Chairman. At all meetings of the Board, the President of the Alumni Association shall preside. If there is no President, or if the President is absent, then the President-Elect shall preside.

Section F: Quorum and Adjournments. At all meetings of the Board, the presence of a majority of the entire Board shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except as may be otherwise provided in these By-Laws.

Section G: Manner of Acting.

At all meetings of the Board, each Board present shall have one vote. Voting by proxy shall be permitted. Except as may otherwise be provided by these By-Laws, the action of a majority of the Board members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.

Section D: Meetings and Notices of Meetings.

An annual meeting of the Alumni Association shall be held immediately following the business meeting of the members at the annual meeting of the Alumni Association for the purposes of electing Board members and officers. The Board, from time to time, may provide by resolution for the holding of other regular meetings of the Board, and may determine the time and place thereof.

ARTICLE VI: Board of Directors

Section A: Number. The number of Board of Directors shall be no less than 11, no more than 25, and will include one member from each of the three most recent graduating classes.

Section B: Election and Term. The members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the voting delegates of the Alumni Association by electronic ballot prior to the annual meeting. The term of a Board member shall be three years. A Board member may not serve more than two terms consecutively unless the number of current Board members plus the number of newly nominated Board members equals less than 12 people.

Section C: Powers and Duties. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the control and management of the affairs, properties, and interests of the Alumni Association, and may exercise all powers of the Alumni Association, except as are expressly conferred upon or reserved to the members of the Alumni Association. The nature of the business and purposes of the Alumni Association shall encompass:

Maximum use of the abundant resources of the alumni, including the talents, services and financial assistance, to the attainment of the purposes of the School; Promotion, establishment and maintenance of communications and other relationships between the School and the Alumni Association; Promotion of a unifying interest and loyalty of present, former and prospective students and others interested in the welfare of the South Carolina Governor's School for Science + Mathematics, and the stimulation of their willingness to participate actively in the programs and activities of the School and its organizations; Assistance to the School in attracting outside students, faculty and administrators; Assisting to project and interpret the South Carolina Governor's School for Science + Mathematics, including its goals, activities, accomplishments and position of leadership to the community, state, nation and the world.

Section E: Voting.

Any Alumni Association action shall be authorized by a majority of votes cast at a meeting of the Alumni Association by the members entitled to vote thereon. An email vote or a written ballot may be taken on question upon which it is necessary or desirable to secure prompt action with a seven (7) day notice. The vote of the majority of the members shall be as binding and conclusive as though taken at a meeting duly called for that purpose. The results of such an email vote or written ballot shall be entered in proper order in the minute books of the Alumni Association. In the event that a majority vote has not been recorded in favor of or against the matter being voted upon within fourteen days, a second notice in regard thereto shall be mailed to all members not having voted, and, in the event that after ten additional days, no majority vote has been obtained, the question shall be deemed to have been tabled.

Honorary members may not vote in Alumni Association elections.

Section C: Enrollment. Graduating students shall be enrolled in the Alumni Association annually at graduation. Persons may also be admitted to membership at any time via direct petition to the GSSM Foundation, Alumni Association Board or Chapter leadership. Petitions will be considered on a rolling basis at quarterly Alumni Association meetings.

Section D: Elective Positions. Only voting members in good standing of the Alumni Association shall be eligible to serve in any of its elective positions.

Section E: Equal Opportunity. Membership in the Alumni Association shall be available without regard to race, sex, color, creed or national origin, or handicap.

ARTICLE V: Meetings of the Alumni Association

Section A: Annual Meetings. The annual meeting will be held at a time and place selected by the Board with 30 days written notice of such meeting being given to the Association. The purpose of the annual meeting will be the election of Board members, presentation of the annual report of the Alumni Association and the transaction of such business as may properly come before the meeting.

Section B: Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Alumni Association may be called at any time by the President or upon the request of at least one-third of the Board of Directors or by demand in writing of active members representing in number one percent or more of the total membership.

Section C: Notice of Meetings. Written notice of each annual meeting of the Alumni Association, stating the time when and the place where it is to be held, shall be served either personally, by mail or email, not less than thirty days before the annual meeting, upon each member of the Alumni Association entitled to vote at such meeting. Written notice of a special meeting of the Alumni Association, stating the time when and the place where it is to be held, shall be served either personally, by mail or email, not less than fifteen days before the meeting, upon each member entitled to vote at such meeting. Notice of a special meeting shall also state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called and shall indicate that it is being issued by, or at the direction of, the person or persons calling the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be directed to each such member at its address as the name appears on the records of the members of the Alumni Association, unless such member shall have previously filed with the Secretary of the Alumni Association a written request that notices intended for it to be mailed to some other address, in which case it shall be mailed to the address so designated in such request.

Section D: Quorum.

Except as otherwise provided herein, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, the presence at the commencement at such meeting of members constituting a majority shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Quorum regulations shall be waived for annual meetings and special meetings of the general membership, and the majority shall rule.

Giving

Your support helps make the GSSM experience possible for students across the Palmetto State by connecting them to the resources they need to thrive. Thank you for helping Govies realize their full potential and empowering them to become the next generation of innovators!

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Alumni Events

Book Club

Join us for good friends & great reads!

The Fall 2022 book club selection will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

Previous Alumni Book Club Selections:

• March 2021: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
• July 2021: Mamba's Daughters: A Novel of Charleston by Dubose Heyward
• 2023: TBD

Reconnect

2023 Legislator Appreciation Breakfast: February 9, 2023

Upstate Kinect: February 15, 2023

Augusta Kinect: March 8, 2023

Townes Award Dinner: March 15, 2023

Houston Reconnect: March 29, 2023

Dallas Reconnect: March 30, 2023

Pawleys Island Kinect: April 18, 2023

Raleigh Reconnect: April 26, 2023

Rock Hill Kinect: May 9, 2023

Boston Reconnect: May 17, 2023

Spartanburg Kinect: June 5, 2023

Florence Kinect: June 13, 2023

 

Register Here

Winter Gathering

The annual Alumni Winter Gathering is a great time to reconnect with your GSSM classmates, meet Govies from other classes, and celebrate our common experiences. Join us on Thursday, December 15, in Columbia, SC at Steel Hands Brewing!

Register Here

Alumni Awards

Outstanding Alumni Award

The Outstanding Alum Award is presented annually by the GSSM Alumni Association to a person who, through their post-GSSM education, work, and personal endeavors, exemplifies the success one can achieve through the foundation of a GSSM education.

Past Recipients

• 2022: Dr. Jamie Lathan '96
• 2021: Dr. Brygg Ullmer '91
• 2020: Wilson White '99
• 2019: Dr. Nathan Kwan '04
• 2018: Kevin Short '93
• 2017: Dr. Jason Hong '93
• 2016: Mary Ellen Player '00
• 2015: Dr. Errol Fields '94
• 2014: Shontavia Jackson Johnson '99
• 2013: Eddie Nance '00
• 2012: Aziz Ansari '00
• 2011: The Honorable Shiva Hodges '91