Mary Ellen Richardson Player, GSSM Class of 2000, named 2016 Outstanding Alumnus
April 11, 2016
COLUMBIA, SC -The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) is pleased to announce that Mary Ellen R. Player, Class of 2000, has won the 2016 Outstanding Alumnus Award. As the award winner, Player will deliver remarks at GSSM’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 28, at the DeLoach Center in Hartsville, 11 a.m.
Nominated and voted upon by the School’s alumni, the Outstanding Alumnus Award is presented to a graduate who, through his or her post-GSSM education, work and personal endeavors, has exemplified the success one can achieve through the foundation of a GSSM education.
Player, a Lake City native, always excelled but credits GSSM for her trajectory to Harvard for undergraduate studies. She graduated magna cum laude and went on to earn her MBA Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
She is currently the Google Fiber City Operations Manager in Charlotte bringing Google Fiber connectivity to the region. Player’s current position follows many successes as a consultant and with various Google entities.
“I feel so honored and humbled to have received GSSM’s Outstanding Alumnus Award,” Player said. “Thank you for thinking of me and nominating me for this honor.”
According to the alumni who nominated her, Player’s professional success has been an inspiration to GSSM and to young women considering careers in STEM fields and business development. She is always willing to give her time and talents to the school, whether it’s speaking at Career Days, making financial contributions to ensure the school’s success ongoing or taking time to broadcast the school’s greatness and impact.
“Mary Ellen has always loved GSSM and GSSM will always love Mary Ellen,” said Kim Bowman, CEO, GSSM Foundation and EVP Strategic Direction, GSSM. “She continues to make our School and state proud.”
About GSSM
The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) is a two-year, public, residential high school in Hartsville, SC, specializing in the advanced study of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), with a unique emphasis on economics and entrepreneurship.
GSSM residential program can serve as many as 288 high school juniors and seniors annually from across the state. In addition, the school impacts more than 10,000 students and teachers each year through its innovative outreach and virtual programs. Learn more by visiting www.scgssm.org.
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