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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 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2022 2023 2024 |
George C. Rogers, Jr. ’43 * Julius Burges ’35 * Patricia Carter ’37 * Richard H. Gadsden ’50 * Louise Mosimann Smith ’41 * Robert C. Heffron, Jr. ’67 * H. Biemann Othersen, Jr. ’50 Glenn F. McConnell ’69 Troy Cook ’57 * Bette Smith Griffith ’56 * Linda Schwartz Lombard ’64 Charles V. Boykin ’37 * Benjamin H. Cheek ’46 * Jeanne Campbell Sink ’75 Helen Bradham Furnans ’63 Lu Parker ’90 Edgar V. McKnight ’53 Cheryll Novak Woods-Flowers ’81 Jody L. Stallings ’92 Dave J. Schlachter ’72 Margaret E. Bridges ’69 Laura Jenkins Thompson ’77 Mary Eileen Leonard ’45 * Paul A. Sandifer ’68 Stephanie Schwabe ’90 John C. Lovell, III ’90 Chandra Fripp Vick ’74 Jeffery E. Kinard ’77 Ron J. Menchaca ’98 Callie Shell ’83 Lucy Garrett Beckham ’70 * Kellie N. Bentz ‘04 John E. Alessi ’98 Padgett Powell ’74 Cary Ann Hearst ’01 Nafees Bin Zafar ’98 Joni Harvey McLeod ’82 Evan Linder ’04 Quentin E. Baxter ’98 Heidi VanDerveer ’86 Debra J. Gammons ’87 Ranky Tanky Margaret Mungin Patterson ’87 Tracey Swinton Bailey ’95 Scott Foxhall ’94 Jennie Stephens ’89 Canyon Barry ’16 |
* Deceased