2025 Garnet Apple recipients will be recognized at Oktoberbest: A Symposium on Teaching on Friday, October 17, 2025.

Nominations for the 2026 Garnet Apple Award will open in September 2025.

The Center for Teaching Excellence is pleased to offer the Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation. This annual award honors the University of South Carolina’s most exceptional faculty who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to best teaching practices and an ongoing record of developing innovative strategies to enhance student learning in their courses.

The Garnet Apple Award serves as evidence of the university's dedication to encouraging innovation in teaching and learning, aiming to enhance the overall educational experience for students. Up to six full-time faculty members from the Columbia and Palmetto College campuses, and the Schools of Medicine (Columbia and Greenville), receive this award each year. Garnet Apple winners are nominated and reviewed by their peers.