Alumni / About Us / Alumni Awards / Alumna or Alumnus of the Year Award
Alumnus of the Year
Celebrating our Alumni leaders
This award recognizes a graduate who has achieved a significant accomplishment in the previous 18 months, thus reflecting honor upon the College of Charleston.
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2025 Alumnus of the Year
Marcus Hammond ’09
Marcus Hammond is a dynamic entrepreneur, community builder, and proud College of Charleston alumnus, where he also served as captain of the men’s basketball team. His leadership on and off the court prepared the foundation for a career rooted in teamwork, vision, and impact.
After building his professional acumen as a Business Banking Relationship Manager at First Horizon Bank, Marcus launched the Black Food Truck Festival—recognized once as the fastest-growing Black-owned festival in the nation. Under his leadership, the festival has not only celebrated culture and culinary excellence but has also generated more than $10.2 million in economic impact for the Charleston region.
His dedication to youth development is just as strong, having coached at Burke High School from 2017–2021 and continuing to mentor students. Through the Black Food Truck Festival Foundation, Marcus also champions initiatives that uplift entrepreneurs in hospitality, tourism, and food and beverage industries.
In 2024, Marcus was named to the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Forty Under 40, a testament to his bold leadership and community-first mindset. He remains a tireless advocate for joy, culture, and sustainable economic progress.
Alumna or Alumnus of the Year Past Recipients
1980 – George C. Rogers, Jr. ’43 *
1981 – Julius Burges ’35 *
1982 – Patricia Carter ’37 *
1983 – Richard H. Gadsden ’50 *
1984 – Louise Mosimann Smith ’41 *
1985 – Robert C. Heffron, Jr. ’67 *
1986 – H. Biemann Othersen, Jr. ’50
1987 – Glenn F. McConnell ’69
1988 – Troy Cook ’57 *
1989 – Bette Smith Griffith ’56 *
1990 -Linda Schwartz Lombard ’64
1991 – Charles V. Boykin ’37 *
1991 – Benjamin H. Cheek ’46 *
1992 – Jeanne Campbell Sink ’75
1993 – Helen Bradham Furnans ’63
1994 – Lu Parker ’90
1995 – Edgar V. McKnight ’53
1996 – Cheryll Novak Woods-Flowers ’81
1997 – Jody L. Stallings ’92
1998 – Dave J. Schlachter ’72
1990 – Margaret E. Bridges ’69
2000 – Laura Jenkins Thompson ’77
2001 – Mary Eileen Leonard ’45 *
2003 – Paul A. Sandifer ’68
2004 – Stephanie Schwabe ’90
2005 – John C. Lovell, III ’90
2006 – Chandra Fripp Vick ’74
2007 – Jeffery E. Kinard ’77
2008 – Ron J. Menchaca ’98
2009 – Callie Shell ’83
2010 – Lucy Garrett Beckham ’70 *
2011 – Kellie N. Bentz ‘04
2012 – John E. Alessi ’98
2013 – Padgett Powell ’74
2014 – Cary Ann Hearst ’01
2015 – Nafees Bin Zafar ’98
2016 – Joni Harvey McLeod ’82
2016 – Evan Linder ’04
2017 – Quentin E. Baxter ’98
2018 – Heidi VanDerveer ’86
2019 – Debra J. Gammons ’87
2020 – Ranky Tanky
2021 – Margaret Mungin Patterson ’87
2022 – Tracey Swinton Bailey ’95
2022 – Scott Foxhall ’94
2023 – Jennie Stephens ’89
2024 – Canyon Barry ’16
2025 – Marcus Hammond ’09
* Deceased