Summer Sprouse, of Greenwood, graduated from Lander University in April with bachelor of science degree in business with an accounting emphasis. Early in July she was informed that she was the recipient of Lander's coveted Thayer Award presented on behalf of the family of Dr. Henry K. Thayer to the graduating senior achieving the highest scholastic average.
Sprouse, the daughter of Dewey and Lisa Sprouse, recorded a perfect 4.0 grade point average (GPA). University president Daniel Ball told her, "If there's one special award given on this campus it's the Thayer Award," and he added, "We're proud of you."
Sprouse said she was thankful and surprised to receive the award, which she described as awesome, and added, "I worked hard for it," meaning her 4.0 average.
Carol Wood, associate professor of accounting, chair of the Department of Business and Sprouse's accounting teacher, said she was a good student and her achievement set a good example for her classmates.
At Lander, she was a Dean's List and President's List student and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society.
She also received Lander's Golden EYE Award given to students for achievements in the Experience Your Education program.
Since early 2011, Sprouse has been an intern at the Greenwood accounting firm of Clark Eustace Wagner which, she said, has been a learning experience, reinforcing the concepts she learned in class at Lander.
This fall, Sprouse, a Greenwood High School graduate, will enroll at the University of South Carolina to begin studies for a master's degree in accounting.