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2026 Awards Nominations

Nominations are now open for the 2026 South Carolina Coroners Association Awards! Help us recognize outstanding coroners, deputy coroners, and individuals who have made significant contributions to the field. Awards will be presented at the annual SCCA conference.

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📅 Nomination Deadline: May 1, 2026

📩 Submit via Email: info@southcarolinacoroners.org

TBA

South Carolina US state flag with big folds waving close up under the studio light indoors

2025
Award Winners

Announcement

The South Carolina Coroners Association is pleased to announce the winners for the 2025 SCCA Awards. These awards recognize outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of death investigation in South Carolina. We want to congratulate the following winners:

 

Coroner of the Year:

Renique Riley Spiller

Allendale County 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Deputy Coroner of the Year (Upstate):
Tommy Page

Pickens County

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Deputy Coroner of the Year (Pee Dee):

Michelle McSpadden

Horry County

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Deputy Coroner of the Year (Midlands):

*name*​

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Deputy Coroner of the Year (Lowcountry):

Rachel Michalski​

Beaufort County

 

 

 

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Sue Townsend Award:

John Collins, Deputy Coroner

Lancaster County

 

 

 

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Rising Star Award:

De'Aron Smith, Pee Dee Region

Marlboro County

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Rising Star Award:

Andrew Wilson, Upstate Region

Pickens County

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rising Star Award:

Ashleigh Jordan, Lowcountry Region

Charleston County

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SCCA Champion of the Year:

Kris Elliott

Bio-One SC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Inspiration Award:

*name*

 

 

 

 

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We want to thank all the nominees  and winners for their hard work and dedication to the field of death investigation in South Carolina. The winners were announced at the 2025 SCCA Annual Conference from June 2-5 at the Myrtle Beach Kingston Resorts @ Embassy Suites.

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A special thank you to the 2025 SCCA Awards Committee Members for their hard work and dedication.  The committee members include Coroner Kandy Kelly from Pickens County, Deputy Coroner Jonathan Lawson from Spartanburg County, Coroner Robbie Baker from Sumter County, Coroner Karla Knight-Deese from Lancaster County, Deputy Coroner Kayla Bledsoe from Calhoun County, as well as Dr. Demetra Garvin from Forensic Science Network.

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Once again, congratulations to all the nominees, and thank you for your commitment to excellence in death investigations in South Carolina.

Coroner of the year - Renique Riley Spiller, Allendale Co..jpg
Deputy Coroner of the Year - Tommy Page, Pickens Co. - Upstate and Rising Star - Andrew Wi
Dep Coroner of the Year - Michelle McSpadden, Horry Co. - Midlands.jpg
Deputy Coroner of the Year - Rachel Michalski, Beaufort Co. - Lowcountry.JPG
Sue Townsend - John Collins, Lancaster Co. Dep.jpg
Champion of the Year - Kris Elliott, Bio-One.jpg
Deputy Coroner of the Year - Tommy Page, Pickens Co. - Upstate and Rising Star - Andrew Wi
De'Aron Smith - Rising Star - Pee Dee Region - Marlboro Co..jpg
Ash rising star award.jpg
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