Alumni Awards Announced
In the interest of safety, Homecoming 2020 will take on a new look and feel. While we won't be able to roll out the red carpet for our alums, we'll count on the Skyhawks to bring home a victory, and we'll recognize those alums who have distinguished themselves in their community and their profession. This year, all three recipients are on the front lines making a difference in the lives of others.
2020 Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Smythe Rich graduated from Hammond School in 1976 and furthered his education at the Medical University of South Carolina. Upon completing ten years of post-graduate training, he returned to Columbia with double board certification in both head and neck surgery and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Rich participates in medical mission trips as well as a leader with the Boy Scouts. He has performed over 200 cleft palate surgeries in Latin America and Africa with Samaritan’s Purse. Currently, Dr. Rich practices Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is clinical faculty in the Dept of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery at USC School of Medicine. He is a proud husband to Kim, and father to two future Hammond graduates, Caroline ’24 and Jack ’28. Dr. Rich credits his start at Hammond.
2020 Young Alumni Award
Since the age of five, Zeb Cope ’00 knew he wanted to be a physician. As a student at Hammond, Zeb participated in a variety of things. In addition to a starring role on the basketball court, Zeb had the opportunity to sing in a musical, perform Shakespeare and host a talent show during high school. Zeb received a BS in Psychology, a minor in Hispanic Studies from William & Mary, while also playing Division 1 basketball. Post undergrad, Zeb played basketball professionally overseas in Europe, and during that time, he learned of osteopathic medicine from his team physicians. He continued to pursue his interest in medicine at an Osteopathic medical school called LECOM-Erie in Erie, Pennsylvania and then as an Obstetrics & Gynecology Resident at Michigan State University College of Medicine. Currently, Zeb is participating in a Fellowship at the University of Louisville in a subspecialty called Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery or Urogynecology. Zeb will be doing advanced training with different "routes of surgery," one of those routes is with robotic surgery. If Zeb could have a conversation with his high school self just starting out on his Hammond journey, he would tell him to "Pray often, embrace the changes as they come, believe in yourself, don't lose yourself and work diligently to your goals.”
2020 Young Alumni Award
When Allie Dod O’Connor ’00 was in the tenth grade, she fell in love with the idea of becoming a nurse. During this same time Allie’s grandfather was in the hospital. Although it was a challenging time for her family, the nurses made a positive, lasting impression on Allie's life. Upon graduating from Hammond in 2000 as a twelve year senior, she chose to attend Converse College. Allie then continued her education at the University of South Carolina where she double majored in Political Science and Business Administration. Furthermore, in 2006 she graduated from Midlands Technical College with a Degree in Nursing. Now, Allie is a nationally board-certified critical care nurse and works at Lexington Medical Center as an ICU nurse. Although voted wittiest in her senior class, Allie takes her job very seriously. She loves being in the ICU with her patients in their darkest hour because she gets to make those moments better, not only for them, but their family members, too. Apart from being a master in the field of nursing, Allie's greatest pride is being the mother to her four-year-old daughter, Josie.
