Award-Winning Broadcaster Amy Wood To Speak At Limestone Graduations

Emmy award winning broadcaster, journalist, and interactive news anchor Amy Wood will be the commencement speaker at Limestone College’s graduation ceremonies at the conclusion of the current fall semester.

Limestone College will confer degrees on graduates from its various programs during its two commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 14, inside Fullerton Auditorium.

Wood, who for nearly three decades has been bringing award-winning stories to WSPA TV, will speak at both commencements. More details about the graduation ceremonies will be announced soon.

The SC Broadcaster’s Association named Wood the “Anchor of the Year” in 2012 and 2016, and she was nominated in 2014 by the Radio and Television and Digital News Association of the Carolinas. Her recognitions also include “Hub Spots Top 100 Most Powerful Women on Twitter,” Broadcasting and Cable's “Top Tweeting” local news anchor, the Poynter Institute’s “35 Top Influencers in Social Media,” and Big Money Web’s “200 Most Fearless Women Online and in Social Media.”

Wood won Emmys for “Best Newscast” in 2005, 2011, and 2016.

“Business Black Box” magazine selected Wood in 2009 as one of six Trailblazers, recognizing regional business leaders changing the face of their industry.

Wood graduated from American University with a degree in Communications.

She appears each weeknight on “Carolinas Family at 4,” along with 7 News broadcasts at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. She has large followings on social media spaces including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Wood’s late great aunt, Dr. Joanne Manners, is a graduate of Limestone who majored in Education. A classmate of the late Bright Parker, who owned Gaffney radio station WAGI with her husband Raymond, Manners remained close with the Parker family and the Limestone community. After graduating from Limestone, Manners went on to teach in the New York City public school system.

“To have a journalist of Amy Wood’s caliber speaking to our upcoming Limestone graduates is very exciting,” said Limestone President Dr. Darrell Parker. “As a news anchor with a very large presence on social media, our students will certainly enjoying hearing from her.”

Wood grew up in the New York metropolitan area, and started her career covering news in Western Minnesota.

Her dedication to the local community led the South Carolina Jaycees to name Wood the state’s “Distinguished Community Service Award” winner in 1999. She continues to work with dozens of local charities and events every year.

As an adopted child, Wood has a special place in her heart for adoption. Her “Amy’s Kids” stories about foster children waiting to be adopted led the South Carolina Council on Adoptable Children to name her “Advocate of the Year” in 2007.

Wood is a highly sought-after speaker who has delivered messages to the South Carolina Association of Non-Profit Professionals, Media Women of South Carolina, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few.

She is married to Mike Wood, and they have three daughters, Brianna, Gracie, and Jami.

During the morning ceremony, Limestone will hold a graduation ceremony for its Arts & Humanities Division and Education & Behavioral Sciences Division. In the afternoon, the College will hold commencement for its Natural/Health Sciences Division and Business & Professional Studies Division.