Lander University's Homecoming and Alumni Weekend came to a triumphant close on Saturday evening with the distinguished recognition of two outstanding alumni during the annual Alumni Awards Celebration.
The recipients of this year's honors are Lisa Britt, Bachelor of Arts 1990, who garnered the esteemed Distinguished Alumni Award, and Revis “Rev” Butler, Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications 2013, who received the Young Alumni Achievement Award.
In his opening remarks, Lander President Dr. Richard Cosentino said, “We are thrilled to have you here tonight. Our graduates are super important to us. You are our BMW – the best of the best.”
LISA BRITT
Reflecting on the weekend’s events, Britt, said, “I am honored to be back on campus and among such amazing alumni.” She noted that “the campus feels different, but also very familiar.”
During her acceptance speech, Britt emphasized the value of perspective, saying, “Time provides us with the opportunity to reflect on our journey.” She shared insights from her career, highlighting the importance of hard work and embracing opportunities.
Britt gave five life lessons she wished she had known when she was in college.
She concluded, “when failure is not an option, you succeed.”
Currently working in Boston, Britt is senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Thermo Fisher Scientific, a Fortune 100 member with assets of $40+ billion. Her remarkable professional journey includes a six-year tenure at Nexeo Solutions, a Texas-based global leader in the distribution of plastics and chemicals, where she served as executive vice president and chief human resources officer.”
Prior to this, she played pivotal roles in human resources leadership at Covidien, a global leader in medical devices and healthcare products. Her recent accolades include winning the Human Resources Leadership Forum’s HR Leadership Award and recognition as one of the Top 100 Women in Business by the National Women’s Conference.
REVIS BUTLER
Revis Butler currently serves as a senior specialist at Fluor Corporation as a material management instrumentation buyer. He also is the web content editor, entertainment editor, and national music columnist for "Sheen," an internationally distributed publication headquartered in South Carolina.
His professional journey includes a prior role as an order management specialist with Proterra Inc. where he designed the data process generating $13.5 million in one quarter.
Calling his Lander days “the best years of my life,” Butler said he wouldn’t “trade that experience for the whole world.” He added he was “honored and very grateful for the award” and was “glad the committee had also noticed his community service work.”
Butler's commitment to community service is evident in his role on the Board of Directors of the Urban League of Upstate Young Professionals in his hometown of Greenville. In addition to his Lander education, he has earned Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and Green Belt certifications. He is also an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Colleagues describe Butler as a charismatic leader, who displays deep reverence for his hometown by helping to advance spaces of equality.
50-YEAR REUNION
The evening also included a celebration for Lander’s Class of 1974, which marked its 50th reunion this homecoming. Members greeted one another as they arrived and began to share life events and reminisce about the past fifty years. Each expressed their great affection for Lander University and were excited about the growth of the campus.
Harold Crawford, who lives in Irmo, S.C., used his accounting degree for a decades-long career with the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Greenwood native, Peggy Cannon was director of financial aid at Piedmont Tech for 24 years and has also taught high school. She currently uses her talents as a teacher for adult education. Diana Lanier Smith was a Home Economics major that worked with the Department of Agriculture. She currently lives in Parrish, Florida. Ella Jean Miller earned a math degree and taught high school for many years prior to obtaining a master’s degree in computer science. She later joined the military and served for 20 years. Ella is now retired and resides in Simpsonville, SC.
LaShaye Hutchinson, Sociology 1996 and president of the Alumni Association, was emcee for the evening. She concluded the event with a quote from her grandmother, “never strive for less; always strive for more.”
Lander University is a public liberal arts university offering over 90 areas of study on a beautiful 128-acre campus in Greenwood SC. For more information on Lander University visit www.lander.edu.