About the Awards
The Riley Institute partners annually with the Greenville Chamber to celebrate outstanding contributions in diversity. Winners of the awards, both individuals and organizations, are role models in the promotion of diversity. The awards originated as a community action project in the Diversity Leaders Initiative 2004 Upstate class. The community action project team, “Inclusion Infusion,” suggested an annual event that would recognize organizations and individuals for their accomplishments in improving diversity and inclusion in the Upstate. The Riley Institute and Greenville Chamber have been partnering on this event ever since.
Award Categories
Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards are made in the following categories*:
- Calder D. Ehrmann Outstanding Individual: An individual who demonstrates a high degree of success in promoting diversity and inspires others to embrace diversity in the community.
- William “Bill” T. Wylie VALUED Lives Award for School Excellence (K-12 School): A school that incorporates valued practices of diversity into its vision and mission and promotes these principles beyond the walls of the school, demonstrating that all students, faculty, and staff are important and have the potential to succeed.
- Outstanding High School Student: A high school student who is viewed as a diversity champion and demonstrates a leading role in promoting diversity in the school environment or within the community.
- Outstanding College Student: A college student who is viewed as a diversity champion and demonstrates a leading role in promoting diversity in the campus environment or within the community.
- Outstanding Nonprofit Organization: A nonprofit or civic organization that focuses on integrating diversity practices in the services provided to its community.
- Outstanding Business: A business that internally models diversity management and serves as a community diversity champion.
*Please Note: An additional category may be awarded by the selection committee to a nominee who positively contributes to promoting international diversity in the Upstate in an extraordinary way. If so, the nominee will be chosen from those nominated for the above categories.
Criteria for Nomination
- Nominees (individuals, organizations, and businesses) should be role models in the Upstate for promoting an inclusive work or community environment and/or for championing diversity as an important individual or organizational mission.
- Nominees must be current resident, organization, or business in the Upstate.
- The Riley Institute, the Greenville Chamber, the Spartanburg Chamber, and the Anderson Chamber and their staff are not eligible for nomination.
The submission deadline for 2024 awards has passed.
2023 UDLA Winners
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