Ten at the Top (TATT) hosted its 12th annual Celebrating Successes event on Wednesday, Nov. 16, where finalists for the 2022 Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants were honored.
Five finalists were selected from 14 applications submitted for the two grants available in 2022, with the town of Honea Path and the city of Clinton taking home the top spots for efforts to honor local talent and to bring some Christmas joy to local residents, respectively.
The Celebrating Success program began in 2013 to celebrate initiatives within the Upstate that work to bring vibrancy to local communities. Hughes Investments has contributed at least $10,000 per year to the program with the winning recipients each year receiving $5,000 to support a new vibrancy initiative in the Upstate.
“I’m just trying to spread the fun,” said Phil Hughes, president of Hughes Investments, regarding his motivations for the awards.
Finalists this year included:
Winners marked with *
- “I” Marks the Spot Scavenger Hunt – City of Inman (Inman)
- Children’s Art in the Park – The Shaw Center (Clemson)
- Honea Path’s Got Talent – Town of Honea Path (Honea Path)*
- Open Doors Studio Tours Spartanburg – Artists Collective of Spartanburg (Spartanburg)
- Polar Experience – City of Clinton (Clinton)*
The town of Honea Path won its grant for hosting a successful talent competition. The contest, originally held in 2016, was meant to be a one-time event. But city leaders are now bringing the competition back in an effort to revitalize the downtown area and draw the community, as well as tourists or visitors from neighboring cities, together. The six-week event allows people of all different ages, backgrounds and talents to participate.
The city of Clinton won its grant for its initiative to bring the big screen to the city, where the nearest movie theatre is more than 30-minutes away, for children and adults to watch the popular Christmas film “The Polar Express.” The city will provide hot cocoa and chairs as well for attendees to enjoy as well.
Other honors
The Welling Award for Regional Collaboration recognizes those committed to creating regional collaboration in order to improve the Upstate area. This year, Erin Ouzts and Todd Horn were selected.
Erin Ouzts was director of the Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem with TATT since 2012. After volunteering for 10 years, the role was officially created in 2019. She retired in November 2022, with Craig Scharton taking over.
“Erin Ouzts has done an amazing job cultivating relationships and building awareness of the importance of having a strong entrepreneur ecosystem. I especially want to thank her for all she has done to support entrepreneurship in the Upstate,” TATT Executive Director Dean Hybl said.
Todd Horne, president of Clayton Construction Company, was also selected for the award. After serving as vice president of business development with the company since October of 2008, he took over as president in January of 2022.
The final award was given to Dr. Beatrice Thompson, from Anderson, who was the recipient of the Burdette Leadership Award. This award honors women serving and leading in the Upstate. Thompson serves as the executive director of the Westside Community Center and worked to transform the original school into a community center.
