The Greenville County Schools Hall of Fame recently welcomed six new inductees.
Five graduates and one former educator from GCS make up the 2024 inductee class. The individuals were inducted into the Hall of Fame for their contributions to academia, arts, athletics, business, media, public service, philanthropy, medicine, military or science.
The inductees were honored at a gala held on Nov. 21 at the Greenville Convention Center.
2024 Graduate Inductees
Kahran Bethencourt
Bethencourt, a 1998 Wade Hampton High graduate, is a world-renowned child photographer and the co-founder of CreativeSoul Photography in Atlanta. Bethencourt’s work focuses on empowering children of color and has earned her the NAACP Image Award and the recognition of being named a Canon Explorer of Light. She is also a New York Times bestselling author for two books she co-wrote, “Glory” and “Crowned.”
Johnny Mack Brown
Brown is a 1955 graduate of Greenville Senior High Academy. He was elected as the Greenville County Sheriff in 1976 and is credited for leading modernization and professionalization efforts at the department. Brown served as president of the National Sheriffs’ Association and was appointed U.S. Marshal for South Carolina in 2002. He also served as interim Greenville County sheriff from 2018 to 2020.
Daniel Miyares
Miyares, a 1988 Hillcrest High graduate, is an award-winning picture-book author and illustrator. His works include “Float,” “Night Out,” “Hope at Sea” and “Bring Me a Rock!” Miyares also illustrated the Newbery Honor Medal-winning book “The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams” and the poem “Dream Variations” by Langston Hughes.
Dr. Bethany Smith
Smith graduated from Southside High School in 2002. She previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow, project scientist and assistant professor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California. Her work focused on prostate cancer research and treatment development in hematology, oncology and experimental therapeutics. She recently returned to South Carolina to continue her work in oncology and genetics.
Virginia Uldrick, Ph.D. (awarded posthumously)
Uldrick was a 1946 graduate of Greenville Senior High Academy. She was the founder of Greenville’s Fine Arts Center and founding president of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. Uldrick also worked as the supervisor of music and director of fine arts for GCS. She was the recipient of the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award and the Order of the Palmetto.
2024 Educator Inductee
Katherine Howard, Ph.D.
Howard has more than 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator in South Carolina. She previously served as the associate superintendent for student performance for GCS. While in this role, Howard was on the international board for the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. She also chaired Clemson University’s College of Education Advancement Board.
