CofC Accounting Instructor Selected for ‘Dancing with the Palmetto Stars’ Competition

The dance floor isn’t the first place you’d think to find an accountant. But, that’s exactly where you’ll find CPA and accounting instructor Thomas Spade ’07 (M.S.) on June 18, 2022, when he performs at the Township Auditorium in Columbia, South Carolina, for the Miss South Carolina Organization’s inaugural Dancing with the Palmetto Stars competition.

Benefiting the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Fund and kicking off the 2022 Miss South Carolina Pageant Week, the dancing competition involves 20 stars from around South Carolina, who have been paired with professional ballroom dancers to tear up the dance floor showing off their best tango, salsa, foxtrot and more.

Thomas Spade, accounting instructor

Spade, who teaches accounting in the College of Charleston’s Department of Accounting and Business Law, has been paired with Dabria Aguilar, the reigning Miss South Carolina Teen who ranked near the top at the 2022 Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition. He is excited to dance, and hopes to raise $5,000 for scholarships.

“It’s an awesome organization, giving more in scholarships than any other state in the Miss America Organization,” says Spade, who has served as head auditor for numerous Miss South Carolina local pageants since 2011, including Miss Summerville/North Charleston, Miss Mt. Pleasant/Miss Charleston, Miss Green Wave/Miss Dorchester County, Miss Berkeley County and Miss Hilton Head. “I talked to the winner of Miss South Carolina a few years ago, and she earned enough scholarships that she had no student debt when she graduated … from law school!”

To help Spade reach his $5,000 goal, visit the Dancing with the Palmetto Stars webpage, and click on Thomas Spade to donate. Donations can also be accepted through the Carolina Community Foundation. Please write DWTS and the dancer’s name in the donation form so they are credited properly.