Citadel alumnus receives honorary Doctorate at USC Upstate commencement
May 1, 2017
The University of South Carolina Upstate will award Mr. Thomas R. “Tommy” Young, III with an honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service at its May Commencement Ceremony on May 2.
Young, a 1974 graduate of The Citadel, is the chief executive officer of Young Office Environments, which employs 65 people and has annual sales in excess of $25 million.
He is the chairman of the Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education and a board member of the Spartanburg Restorative Care Hospital. He is the previous chairman of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Spartanburg Regional Foundation, USC Upstate Foundation, the Arts Partnership, Spartanburg County Foundation and Mountainview Nursing Home. Previosuly, Young has been president of the Rotary Club of Spartanburg, the Piedmont Club and the Spartanburg Citadel Club and has been a board member of the Presbyterian Communities of S.C., YMCA of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Boys Home, American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America, Arts Council of Spartanburg and the Spartanburg Country Club.
His tireless efforts are unparalleled in the service he has provided to the arts, education, health care and service organizations. He is a proven leader, as evidenced by the many organizations that have prospered under his leadership. In 2010, Young received the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s highest honor, the Neville Holcombe Distinguished Citizenship Award.
“Tommy Young is a successful businessman and family man who is passionate about his community and its citizenry and who has worked diligently to make Spartanburg a better place to live and work,” said Chancellor Brendan B. Kelly. “USC Upstate is pleased to honor Tommy for his interest in and service and passion for this University and as a supporter and advocate for higher education throughout South Carolina. He has made a tremendous contribution to the local work force and economic development and his dedication in providing leadership to numerous arts, education, health care and service organizations is unparalled.”
About USC Upstate
The University of South Carolina Upstate is a regional, comprehensive university that offers more than 40 bachelor’s degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, business administration, nursing, and teacher education, and master’s degrees in education, informatics, and nursing. These are degrees that help students to transition easily to careers in the Upstate region. USC Upstate is committed to fulfilling regional and state workforce needs and thus the university is a major engine of social and economic development. Comprised of a diverse and dynamic community of approximately 6,000 students from 26 states and 17 countries, USC Upstate is a wonderful blend of traditional and nontraditional students who reflect the Upstate’s rich international character. USC Upstate offers a balance of strengths that, when added up, results in a learning experience that’s hard to match. The academic programs are accredited and highly ranked, with amazing research and internship opportunities for students. USC Upstate has its main campus in Spartanburg, the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics and the UPSTATE Gallery on Main in downtown Spartanburg, two locations in Greenville, and a growing number of programs online. The USC Upstate Spartans, which fields 17 varsity sports, compete on the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Nearly 30,000 alumni have earned degrees from USC Upstate and approximately 85 percent choose to remain in the Upstate region to build their lives and careers, making a significant impact of the region’s economy and quality of life. Learn more at www.uscupstate.edu.
