Homecoming Weekend event honors alumni for excellence, leaderships, and service
Presbyterian College celebrated its True Blue spirit Saturday morning in Edmunds Hall, honoring alumni who exemplify the College’s motto — “While We Live, We Serve” — through their lives, careers, and service.
The 2025 Alumni Awards Ceremony, held as part of Homecoming Weekend, featured welcome remarks from PC president Dr. Anita Gustafson, who praised the honorees for embodying the College’s values of faith, community, and lifelong service.
“Presbyterian College makes a difference in the world because our students make a difference in the world — and our alumni make a difference in the world,” Gustafson said. “The essence and character of the people we honor today are truly True Blue.”
Honoring the Class of 1975 and the Ben A. Hammett Society
Before recognizing this year’s award recipients, Gustafson welcomed members of the Ben A. Hammett Society, which honors alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago. The Class of 1975, celebrating its 50th reunion, was inducted into the society during Homecoming Weekend.
“We are certainly stronger together, and your support makes a big difference in our continued success,” Gustafson said. “Once a Blue Hose, always a Blue Hose.”
Two members of the Class of 2015 were recognized for their early-career success and commitment to making a difference in their fields and communities.
Outstanding Young Alumnus – Isaiah Lynn ’15
Entrepreneur and former Blue Hose football player Isaiah Lynn was honored for his leadership and community impact as co-founder of Teammates, a real estate investment and development firm connecting professional athletes to projects that strengthen their hometowns.
Lynn reflected on how PC’s culture of service shaped his purpose.
“When I first got here, I had no clue what I wanted to do,” he said. “But I knew I wanted to impact people, impact communities, and leave the world better than I found it. That belief led to the creation of Teammates.”
Lynn lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife, Nike, and their 10-month-old daughter, Charli. A proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, he helped bring the fraternity’s charter to Presbyterian College in 2015.
“There are three types of people in this world,” Lynn added. “People who make it happen, people who wish it happened, and people who ask, ‘What happened?’ My goal is to never be the last.”
Outstanding Young Alumna – Dr. Jada Suber ’15
Research immunologist Dr. Jada Suber, a Clinton native, was recognized for her groundbreaking work in allergy and immunology research. A postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Suber earned her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her research focused on peanut allergy mechanisms.
In her heartfelt remarks, Suber credited her mother and PC professors for instilling confidence and perseverance.
“When I was little, my mom told me I could do anything — and at some point, I started to believe her,” she said. “When I got to PC, my professors carried that same belief. Even when I didn’t know the answer, they’d look at me and say, ‘You can do this — and you have to.’”
Suber encouraged fellow alumni to support the next generation of students.
“I’m grateful because I carried all of you with me,” she said. “There were moments in grad school when I wanted to give up, but I could hear all your voices saying, ‘Yes, you can.’”
Mary F. Lehman Service Award
The Mary F. Lehman Service Award went to Dr. Kathryn Owen Hix ’00, a longtime alumni leader and educator who has served Presbyterian College in numerous volunteer roles.
Hix, who works in faculty development at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, previously served as president of the PC Alumni Association Board of Directors.
“It feels surreal to be on this side of things,” Hix said. “For so many years I’ve been on that board. I want to thank my family, because service in this capacity doesn’t come without sacrifice. PC gave me the best friends and the strongest foundation I could have ever asked for.”
A former English professor and Cowan Award recipient for excellence in teaching, Hix continues to serve on several nonprofit and diocesan boards in Greenville, where she lives with her husband and child.
Alumni Gold P Award
Matt Navarro ’99, global president and CEO of Stanley 1913 (PMI WW Brands), received the College’s highest alumni honor for his transformative leadership in global brand management.
Navarro, who addressed the audience in a recorded message, credited his PC experience for shaping his leadership style.
“What shaped my time at PC were the experiences, the environment, and the relationships,” he said. “Leadership lessons came from my fraternity, my football team, and mentors like Brian Madden and Randy Randall.”
He said the College’s influence still guides him today.
“The most important thing in business — and in life — is to remain curious,” Navarro said. “PC nurtured that curiosity and challenged us to think differently. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Navarro lives in Park City, Utah, with his wife, Carolyn, and their three sons.
Dum Vivimus Servimus Award
Jessica Jetton ’99 received the Dum Vivimus Servimus Award, which honors alumni who exemplify the College’s motto through faith and action.
Jetton, director of donor engagement for Help the Persecuted, has dedicated 27 years to education, global ministry, and nonprofit leadership. Her service has spanned continents — from classrooms in Georgia to mission work across Africa and the Middle East.
“The foundation of everything I’ve done was built right here,” Jetton said. “Celtic Cross gave me my first missions experience, and that summer in the Bahamas set the tone for all the ways the Lord would call me to serve.”
She reflected on Mark 10:45 as her life’s guiding principle:
“’Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve’,” she said. “That’s the model we follow — not just while we live, we serve, but because we live, we serve.”
Mike Turner Award
Steve ’73 and Libby Crowe received the Mike Turner Award for their exceptional support of the Scotsman Club and PC Athletics.
Steve, a 41-year veteran of Swagelok Company and owner of Foothills Motorsports in Piedmont, S.C., reflected on how PC shaped his life and marriage.
“PC has had a tremendous impact on my life and the life that Libby and I have enjoyed for almost 50 years,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to support the school and encouraging younger alumni to do the same.”
The Crowes, who have six grandchildren, remain active supporters of scholarships and student-athlete development.
Honorary Alumna Award
Susan Tallman, a real estate professional, entrepreneur, and community leader, received the Honorary Alumna Award for her steadfast commitment to Clinton and Presbyterian College.
A native of Indiana and co-founder of M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, Tallman has lived in Clinton for nearly 30 years and raised three daughters with her husband, Jeff Tallman, head golf professional at Musgrove Mill.
“When we moved here, I thought, this is such a magical place,” she said. “It’s got something that other colleges don’t. PC stickers mean something — they represent people who care deeply.”
Tallman, a two-time breast cancer survivor, has devoted her life to faith, family, and service.
“I’m honored — truly honored — to be part of this community,” she said. “I’m all in.”
Thomas Aurelius Stallworth ’55 Award
The Rev. Robert Brozina ’83 received the Thomas Aurelius Stallworth ’55 Award for his compassionate ministry and dedication to Christian leadership.
Pastor of Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church and former chaplain for Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, Brozina shared how his life and ministry were shaped by his former professor, the late Dr. Tom Stallworth.
“The first two words he ever said to me were, ‘Hello, brother,’” Brozina recalled. “With those words, I knew that somebody saw me — that I was not just a number. That’s the PC spirit: hospitality, welcome, and belonging.”
He said the honor challenges him to continue living out Stallworth’s example.
“We are all God’s children, loved and valued,” he said. “Our challenge is to take that out into the world every day. While we live, we serve.”
Bob Waters Award
David Phenix ’85, a longtime educator and coach, received the Bob Waters Award for his dedication to mentoring student-athletes and his courage in the face of adversity.
A three-sport athlete at Lakeside High School in Atlanta and a former offensive tackle under legendary PC coach Cally Gault, Phenix went on to teach and coach for 25 years in Georgia schools.
“Presbyterian College gave me a chance — both for an excellent education and to play football at the next level,” he said. “The greatest lessons I learned here were resolve, perseverance, and persistence.”
In 2024, Phenix was injured while protecting students during a tragic school shooting — an experience that tested those same lessons.
“That adversity took everything I’d learned to a new level,” he said. “The perseverance I gained at PC helped me get through.”
Phenix lives in Loganville, Georgia, with his wife, Leesa, and their family.
A Celebration of Legacy and Purpose
As the ceremony concluded, alumni, students, and guests rose in a standing ovation for the honorees — a testament to the College’s enduring influence on generations of leaders.
President Gustafson’s words echoed the day’s theme of unity and gratitude:
“We are all working together to make the world a better place,” she said. “Your success, your service, and your stories remind us of what it means to be True Blue.”The 2025 Alumni Awards Ceremony not only celebrated exceptional achievements but also reaffirmed Presbyterian College’s lasting commitment to shaping servant leaders — men and women who carry its spirit into every corner of the world.
