Francis Marion University honored six distinguished alumni during its annual Alumni Awards ceremony on Thursday, March 5, at the FMU Performing Arts Center in downtown Florence.
This year’s honorees included:
Paul Reardon `89 – 2026 Outstanding Alumnus
Stephanie Grosick `16, `21 – Benjamin Wall Ingram III Young Alumnus
Glenn Godfrey `92 – Professional Industry Award for Business and Industry
Latoya Lane-Milo `17, `19 – Professional Industry Award for Medical and Health
Tyra McBride `11 – Professional Industry Award for Public Service and Law
Phillip Guyton `05 – Volunteer of the Year
FMU President Fred Carter congratulated the honorees and praised their professional accomplishments and service to others.
“The alumni honored tonight do extraordinary work in a variety of fields,” said Carter. “Their contributions are widely respected, and all of them have earned this recognition. They are not being honored simply because they are alumni, but because of these accomplishments and the many people they have helped along the way. The commitment to serving others is one of the qualities that distinguishes an FMU graduate.”
Paul Reardon (`89) was recognized as the 2026 Outstanding Alumnus. Reardon earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from FMU and spent ten years working in healthcare administration before becoming a founding partner of a healthcare receivables organization that was later sold to a private equity firm in 2019.
While a student at FMU, Reardon was an accomplished athlete, competing on both the cross country and track teams. In 2024, he was inducted into the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Reardon currently serves on several non-profit boards, including the Education Foundation at FMU, and is a deacon at Mt. Elon Baptist Church. He and his wife, Ashley, are passionate advocates for FMU education and athletics and are dedicated supporters of philanthropic efforts throughout the community.
Stephanie Grosick (`16, `21) received the Benjamin Wall Ingram III Young Alumnus Award. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration from FMU. She also completed a Certificate in International Business Management during a study abroad semester in Poitiers, France.
Grosick currently serves as the Vice President of Business Development for the Florence County Economic Development Partnership, where she has supported numerous project announcements involving both new industry recruitment and the expansion of existing industry.
She is an active member of several professional and community organizations, including Young Professionals of Florence, the FMU Alumni Advisory Board, the FMU School of Business Advisory Board, and the SC Economic Developers’ Association Emerging Leaders Committee.
Glenn Godfrey (`92) was the recipient of the Professional Industry Award for Business and Industry. A graduate of FMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Godfrey serves as President and CEO of QAT, Inc., an automotive and petroleum equipment distributor and installer with operations in Florence, Raleigh, and Atlanta.
He also serves as President and CEO of Pee Dee Tank, an above-ground storage tank manufacturer he acquired with his brother, Jason, in 2006. Godfrey is passionate about investing in people and regularly mentors young professionals on topics including financial stewardship, family, leadership, and character. His guiding mission is to build people as intentionally as he builds businesses.
Latoya Lane-Milo (`17, `19) received the Professional Industry Award for Medical and Health. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from FMU.
Lane-Milo began her nursing career as a nurse practitioner in the emergency department. Today, she is the owner of Gold Star Urgent Care, where she provides care to a broad patient population while also mentoring future healthcare professionals. She is also the founder of the Gold Star Cares Foundation, which provides free healthcare services to both sheltered and unsheltered populations.
Tyra McBride (`11) was honored with the Professional Industry Award for Public Service and Law. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Political Science from FMU and later received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
She currently serves as Deputy Legal Counsel and Director of Appointments in the Office of Governor Henry Dargan McMaster, overseeing gubernatorial appointments to agency leadership, judicial positions, and boards and commissions across the state. In this role, she provides legal guidance on appointments, ethics, statutory compliance, and confirmation processes while leading modernization efforts within the office’s centralized appointments system.
McBride is also a member of the South Carolina Black Lawyers Association and the Richland County Bar Association and serves on the Board of Girls on the Run in Columbia.
Phillip Guyton (`05) received the inaugural Volunteer of the Year Award, which recognizes alumni who demonstrate exceptional dedication in advancing university initiatives and strengthening alumni engagement.
Guyton earned a degree in Information Systems from FMU and has spent 21 years with ACS Technologies. He also operates Florence Unlocked, a digital platform that highlights small businesses, festivals, and cultural events across the Pee Dee region.
In addition, Guyton owns True Light Photography, where he regularly documents events and initiatives for dozens of nonprofits throughout the region. Beyond his support of FMU, his volunteer efforts include work with the Farrah Turner Foundation, The Jonathan Foundation, Harvest Hope, and both the Florence and Darlington Humane Societies.
FMU Honors Six Distinguished Alumni at Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony
