The Dick and Tunky Riley Award for SIC Excellence

Celebrating South Carolina’s Most Outstanding
School Improvement Councils

Each year, the Dick and Tunky Riley Award for School Improvement Council (SIC) Excellence honors local councils whose work has made a lasting impact on their schools and communities.

Created in 2002 by the SC-SIC Board of Trustees, the award is named for former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and his wife, Tunky Riley, who championed civic engagement and quality public education.

Winning this award places your SIC among the best of the best, recognizing your leadership, collaboration, and commitment to student success.

Application Now Open!

Is your SIC ready to shine?

Applications for the 2026 Dick and Tunky Riley Award for SIC Excellence are now open!

Submit your application by December 5, 2025 to share your council’s story and be recognized among South Carolina’s most inspiring School Improvement Councils.

Why Apply

Your SIC works hard to engage families, improve schools and inspire your community.

Applying for the Riley Award:

  • Celebrates your council’s achievements and dedication to positive change.

  • Inspires other councils with your story and strategies.

  • Strengthens your community’s pride in your school and its progress.

Even if you don’t win, councils that achieve Honor Roll status are recognized statewide for their excellence.

“This award highlights the power of collaboration and the incredible things SICs can achieve when families, schools, and communities work together.”

How the Process Works

The Riley Award process is straightforward and supportive, with three levels of recognition:

Level One: Telling Your Story

Share your SIC’s accomplishments from the past school year through a case statement.

  • Maximum of 100 points available.

  • SICs scoring 85 points or more are named to the SIC Honor Roll and receive a certificate of achievement.

  • Up to 20 Honor Roll SICs are selected as semi-finalists.

Level Two: Demonstrating Excellence

Semi-finalists submit additional documentation showing compliance with state law and SC-SIC guidelines.

  • Worth up to 50 additional points.

  • The four highest-scoring SICs move on to the Winners Level.

Winners Level: Recognizing the Best of the Best

An independent panel of judges reviews the top councils’ materials and selects:

  • One Riley Award Winner

  • Remaining finalists receive Honorable Mention Awards

2025 Riley Award Winner - Lemira Elementary SIC

Lemira Elementary SIC demonstrated extraordinary dedication to motivating, inspiring, and educating their students to be college-and-career-ready.

Their work focused on:

  • Closing learning gaps through targeted tutoring, enrichment, and small group instruction.

  • Providing mentoring programs to build student confidence.

  • Launching the Attendance H.E.R.O. initiative, boosting attendance and school culture

These efforts created measurable improvements in student success and a more supported and connected school community.

2025 Honorable Mention SICs

  • Blue Ridge High SIC

  • Edith L. Frierson Elementary SIC

  • Sumter High SIC

Be Inspired. Take the Next Step.

The Riley Award is more than recognition. It’s a movement to elevate schools across South Carolina by shining a light on councils doing transformational work.

If your SIC has led meaningful, measurable change, we encourage you to apply.

Your story could inspire others and help shape the future of education in our state.