Nomination Deadline for South Carolina Silver Crescent for
Manufacturing Excellence Award is December 13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/22/2002

PENDLETON – Tri-County Technical College, in cooperation with the 15 other colleges that comprise the South Carolina Technical College System, is pleased to announce that applications for the second annual South Carolina Silver Crescent for Manufacturing Excellence Awards are now being accepted.

This annual recognition was developed and established by the South Carolina Technical College System to honor outstanding small, medium and large manufacturers in the state as part of its Salute to Manufacturing (www.salutetomanufacturing.com) program. Recipients of the first Silver Crescent Awards in 2002 included Sealevel Systems Inc. of Liberty, US Engine Valve Company of Westminster and GE Gas Turbines of Greenville.

The awards will be presented May 7, 2003, at the eighth annual Salute to Manufacturing Luncheon, held in conjunction with the Automated Manufacturing Exposition, at the Palmetto Exposition Center in Greenville. The governor of the state is expected to present the awards.

The Salute to Manufacturing program was developed by the South Carolina Technical College System in 1996 to recognize and promote the importance of manufacturing to our standard of living and quality of life in the Palmetto State. Its mission is to increase awareness of the importance of manufacturing among the general public.

Manufacturers from across the state are encouraged to participate. "Any individual or group can nominate a company that has been in business in South Carolina for at least three years, as of May 1, 2003," Dr. Don C. Garrison, president of Tri-County, explained. "We also encourage companies to nominate themselves."

Award recipients will be selected based upon three criteria:
The company's impact on South Carolina: examples may include, but are not limited to, demonstrated growth in new jobs, corporate revenues and capital investments.
The company's commitment to the work force: examples may include, but are not limited to, programs that have improved the quality of life for its employees such as educational programs, diversity awareness, employee recognition and assistance.
The company's involvement/contributions to the community: examples may include, but are not limited to, community volunteer programs, community environmental programs and educational partnerships.
Award categories are small manufacturer (50 or fewer full-time employees); medium (51- 499); and large (500 or more full-time employees).

More than 3,700 South Carolina manufacturers will receive award applications in the mail. Applications also may be filed online at www.salutetomanufacturing.com/nominations.htm.

Nominations must be forwarded to Silver Crescent for Manufacturing Excellence, Spartanburg Technical College, P.O. Box 4386, Spartanburg, SC 29305, no later than December 13, 2002, for presentation to the Award Selection Committee, comprised of representatives nominated by each of the colleges in the South Carolina Technical College System. For additional information on the award, please visit www.salutetomanufacturing.com/silver.htm.
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