Arnold Fields announces 2026 community award winners

The Arnold Fields Community Endowment named its 2026 award recipients after the 26th Annual Community Service Awards Dinner on March 7 in Varnville. Honorees include Charles H. Phillips (Lifetime Achievement), William R. Koger Jr. (Unsung Hero), Ervin L. Manigo (Arts and Culture) and several others recognized for service in public safety, mentorship, music and small business.

The Arnold Fields Community Endowment held its 26th Annual Community Service Awards Dinner on March 7 at North District Middle School in Varnville and announced its 2026 award winners. The awards recognize long-term community service and contributions across education, public safety, mentorship, the arts and local business in the S.C. Lowcountry. This year's class includes longtime educators, first responders, small-business leaders and community volunteers from Hampton County and nearby towns. The AFCE has supported the region for 26 years through awards, grants, scholarships and preservation work. Key details: - The awards dinner took place March 7 at North District Middle School in Varnville as the 26th annual AFCE Community Service Awards Dinner. - Charles H. "Buddy" Phillips of Estill received the Lifetime Achievement Award; the article notes he was recently awarded the Order of the Palmetto and served many years as superintendent of Hampton School District One before later working at the University of South Carolina - Salkehatchie. - William R. Koger Jr. of Hampton received the Unsung Hero Award after a long career with the USDA Farm Service Agency and decades of local civic involvement including the Hampton County Watermelon Festival and the Rotary Club. - Ervin L. Manigo of Walterboro received the Arts and Culture Award for more than 40 years as a band director and music educator who built long-standing school band programs and community musical traditions. - Other named honorees include Kyle R. Horton (Hampton County Public Safety Award), Michael Strauss (Mentorship of Excellence), Martha Brown (Inspirational Gospel Music Award), Hettie M. Dobson (Friends of Hampton County Award), Robert Marovich (Living Legacy) and recipients of the White Crane Jacket: Charles James, William McCoy and Dr. Paul Johnson. Summary: The 2026 awards highlight a range of local service, from education and mentorship to public safety, arts and small business, reflecting long-term contributions in Hampton County and nearby communities. The AFCE continues to operate programs that include grants, college scholarships and preservation efforts as part of its ongoing work in the Lowcountry.