USC Sumter's Dr. Ray McManus Wins Jasper Literary Award
Sumter, SC (03/12/2020) — The University of South Carolina Sumter is pleased to announce English Professor Dr. Ray McManus was recently named the 2019 Artist of the Year in Literary Arts by the Jasper Project.
The Jasper Project is a multidisciplinary arts facilitator serving the greater Columbia and South Carolina communities by providing collaborative arts engineering and community-wide arts communication. Annually, they name winners of the Jasper Awards which include accolades for artists representing visual arts, theatre, music, literary arts and film.
"We are thrilled and very proud of Dr. McManus and this well-deserved honor," said Dr. Michael Sonntag, Campus Dean of USC Sumter. "It is so exciting when external bodies recognize the level of excellence we have among our faculty."
Dr. McManus is a professor of English, Director of the Center for Oral Narrative, and has recently been appointed Director Faculty, Curricula and Courses for Dual Enrollment Programs in Lexington and Richland Counties. Since coming to USC Sumter in 2008, Dr. McManus is a five-time winner of the SGA Professor of the Year, the Stoddard Award, the Olyler Award for excellence in service, and the John J Duffy Excellence in Teaching Award. He is the author of three books of poetry: "Punch", "Red Dirt Jesus", and "Driving through the Country before You Are Born", co-author of the anthology "Found Anew", and his poetry and prose have appeared in numerous journals. When he's not teaching, Dr. McManus serves as the Writer in Residence for the Columbia Museum of Art and Chairs the Board of Governors for the South Carolina Academy of Authors.
"To be recognized for something good at any level is humbling and something one should never take for granted, so I am deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to vote for me for this award. I'm extremely lucky to work with so many wonderful people who inspire me and encourage me to keep going. Whether that's at USC Sumter, Palmetto College, the Columbia Museum of Art, the Board of Governors for the SC Academy of Authors, or my family, I owe so much to them for anything I am able to do," said McManus.
Media Attachments
2020 Jasper Award Winners L-R Brittany Hammock (Theatre Arts), Kristen Harris (Music), Ray McManus (Literary Arts), Michael Krajewski (Visual Arts), and Lynn Cornfoot (Media Arts)
Dr. Ray McManus, named 2019 Artist of the Year in Literary Arts by the Jasper Project
University of South Carolina Sumter
Alethia Hummel, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, 803-938-3728, alethiah@uscsumter.eduShare this Story
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