Awards

2024 SCAC Awards

CALL FOR ENTRIES!

2024 J. Mitchell Graham/Barrett Lawrimore Memorial Awards Competition

Applications Due August 12, 2024

SCAC is now accepting applications for the 2024 J. Mitchell Graham/Barrett Lawrimore Memorial Awards Competition. To apply online and/or for details about important dates, and competition rules and requirements, please visit the Awards Toolkit webpage.

The J. Mitchell Graham/Barrett Lawrimore Memorial Awards recognize innovative projects completed by South Carolina’s counties during the past two fiscal years. Winners represent the best qualities of local governance—attention to details, service to citizens, efficient use of tax dollars, and improvement in the quality of life. They demonstrate how creative problem-solving and collaboration can achieve impressive results, and offer new ideas for other counties to consider. Each project is judged on the written entry submitted via the online application form by the application due date and an in-person presentation before a panel of judges on the competition day.

The J. Mitchell Graham Memorial Award recognizes counties that address community challenges, implement operational improvements or enhance their citizens’ quality of life in a unique way.

The Barrett Lawrimore Memorial Regional Cooperation Award highlights the growing need for regional partnerships, strategies, and solutions. Competition for this award is open to two or more political subdivisions (counties or county partnerships formed with city, town, district, or regional government organizations) that worked together on a project.

Changes for 2024

New Timeline: A different timeline from past years' competitions will be implemented for the 2024 Awards Competition. The competition will be held on September 19, 2024 at the SC ETV studio in Columbia. All competitors will be recognized, and the winners and honorable mention counties will be announced during an Awards Luncheon on October 17, to be held in conjuction with SCAC's Fall Advocacy Meeting. Please see the Awards Toolkit for competition due dates and additional details.

More Time to Present: The amount of time allowed for oral presentations durng the competition has increased from 10 minutes to 12 minutes for each project entry.

Questions?

Contact Susan Turkopuls at sturkopuls@scac.sc or by calling 1-803-252-7255, ext. 315.

2023 Award Winners

The 2023 J. Mitchell Graham and Barrett Lawrimore Memorial Awards Winners were announced at the SCAC Annual Conference on August 2, 2023. View the announcement online.