Coker University will honor four alumni whose careers and service reflect the lasting impact of the Coker community during Alumni Day on April 18. The University will present the 2026 Alumni Awards to Jenn Bell, Lewis Sharp ’93, Sam J. Fryer III, and Donald E. Quist, Ph.D., recognizing their leadership and contributions in athletics, business, community service, and the arts.
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award: Jenn Bell
Jenn Bell, who earned a Master of Science in College Athletic Administration from Coker University, serves as Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at Converse University.
Bell has spent more than three decades in collegiate athletics as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator. At Converse, she has overseen the expansion of the athletics department to 21 programs and helped guide the institution’s transition to a coeducational athletics model.
During her tenure, Converse teams have earned conference championships, national tournament appearances, and the Conference Carolinas Body, Mind & Soul Dr. Alan Patterson Cup for overall excellence in academics, athletics, and sportsmanship.
Bell was named the 2023 Cushman & Wakefield NCAA Division II Athletic Director of the Year and the Women Leaders in Sports Nike Executive of the Year. She previously worked at Coker University and spent 18 years at Anderson University before beginning her head coaching career at Wofford College. She also serves on the NCAA Division II Management Council.
Special Recognition Award: Lewis Sharp ’93
Lewis Sharp ’93 earned a Bachelor of Science in Business with a marketing concentration from Coker University. While a student, he was a four-year member of the Cobra men’s basketball team and also played baseball.
Sharp is Vice President and Co-Owner of Premier Growers, Inc. Over the course of his career, he helped grow the company from a $1.5 million operation in the late 1990s into a $15 million business serving clients across the Southeastern United States.
Premier Growers has developed several notable partnerships, including providing floral displays for Walt Disney World and the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.
A dedicated supporter of Coker, Sharp has served on the Coker University Board of Trustees since 2019 and continues to support Coker Athletics and other campus initiatives.
Distinguished Alumni Service Award: Sam J. Fryer III
Sam J. Fryer III (ABD) is a longtime educator, counselor, and community advocate whose work has focused on supporting students and families across the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.
He currently serves as a School-Based Therapist at Delmae Heights Elementary School within Florence One Schools and as a Licensed Professional Counselor with Stewart Behavioral Health in Florence.
Throughout his career, Fryer has created and led programs centered on youth mentorship, academic success, father engagement, and mental health awareness. His work has helped connect schools, families, churches, and community organizations in support of young people.
Fryer has also provided leadership through civic service, including appointments to the Pee Dee Mental Health Board of Directors by Governors Nikki Haley and Henry McMaster.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Donald E. Quist, Ph.D.
Donald E. Quist, Ph.D., earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Coker University and is now an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Missouri.
An accomplished author and scholar, Quist has written several books, including For Other Ghosts and Harbors. His essays and fiction have appeared in publications such as AGNI, Michigan Quarterly Review, and Poets & Writers.
His work has received multiple Pushcart Prize nominations and recognition in Best American Essays. In addition to his writing and teaching, Quist has served in leadership roles within national writing programs and literary organizations while contributing to cultural initiatives exploring identity and the African American experience.
