Education News: Sunday, May 13, 2018
Wilson Hall
Tavarez a Texas Merit Scholar
Senior Matthew Tavarez received a National Merit Scholarship from the University of Texas at Dallas. Valued at $178,000, the scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, room, board, books and supplies, and recipients are eligible for the university's honors program. For students designated as National Merit Scholar Finalists, the scholarship program is reserved for the top academic applicants in the nation.
Senior Service Project
For their annual spring service day on April 27, the seniors raised more than $4,000 through a walk-a-thon to benefit Sumter Feeds My Starving Children. The 69 members of the class, who met on campus before walking over four miles to First Presbyterian Church, raised the money by seeking pledges from friends and family. In addition to the funds raised through the walk-a-thon, the seniors raised more than $7,300 for the project during the fall. FMSC is a Christian, nonprofit organization that feeds hungry children in 70 countries throughout the world by providing meals made up of a protein, vegetables, vitamins and rice all in one meal pack. FMSC has held a Sumter packing event in August for the past four years, and it has grown to almost 2,000 volunteers packing meals to feed 1,000 children for a year. The seniors are working to generate support to sponsor a Wilson Hall shift at the Mobile Pack in August, which will be an opportunity for students, faculty, families and alumni to pack meals for hungry children. In a two-hour shift, it will be possible to pack enough meals to feed more than 200 children for one year. School counselor Elizabeth Hyatt is the coordinator of the senior service project.
College Scholarships
As of March 1, 99 percent of the 69 members of the senior class received merit-based scholarship offers totaling $5.2 million to a four-year college or university. The following is a partial list of scholarship recipients compiled from information submitted to the college counselor, Diane Richardson. Louisiana State University offered a Transformation Merit Award to Katie Overby, Mars Hill University offered an academic scholarship to Grace Tristan, and the Missouri University of Science and Technology offered an Excellence Scholarship to Zack Zobrist. Ohio University offered a Distinction Scholarship to Pitch Sinlapanuntakul, Saint Joseph's University offered a Legacy Award to Megan Piasecki, Salisbury University offered a Presidential Scholarship to Madison Tash, and Texas Christian University offered an International Grant to Paul Choe. Clemson University offered an academic scholarship to Kirsten Fisher and Meredith Johnson, and Independent Scholarship to Eadon Lee, and a Palmetto Pact Scholarship to Graeson Smith and Matthew Tavarez. The College of Charleston offered a Merit Scholarship to Ragin Lee, the University of South Carolina Aiken offered an Achievement Scholarship to Hayley DuBose, and Winthrop University offered a Garnet Scholarship to Crystal Moore. The University of South Carolina offered a Presidential Scholarship to Chandler Curtis and Kirsten Fisher, a Dean's Scholar Award to Macie Luebbert, an Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship to Kate Smith, and a Garnet Scholar Award to Grace Towery. - Sean Hoskins
Central Carolina Technical College
Registration open for summer and fall
Register now for summer or fall semester at CCTC. With an average job placement rate of 92 percent and more than 50 programs of study to choose from, you'll be sure to find your perfect fit. Regardless if you are interested in learning a skilled trade and moving straight into the workforce or transferring to a four-year college or university using one of our 13 admission agreements, CCTC delivers an affordable pathway to your success. Summer classes start May 21, and fall classes start Aug. 20. For more information visit cctech.edu/how-to-enroll-5-easy-steps/ and to view the classes offered visit cctech.edu/academics/class-schedule-search/. - Katherine M. Cooper
Thomas Sumter Academy
Reed receives award
Thomas Sumter Academy has the greatest faculty and staff. They are dedicated, professional, firm but fair, and they love their students. Many teachers are also coaches as well as class and club sponsors. For example, Coach BJ Reed - Coach BJ as she is referred to - was selected the Sumter Chamber of Commerce High School Educator of the year. She was most recently awarded the Debbie Nix Spirit of TSA Award as well.
Our faculty enables each student to maximize their true potential whether that be in the classroom, in a club or on the athletic field. The faculty is the glue that enables our academic foundation to be as strong as it is and ultimately in the success of TSA graduates. The Class of 2018 has a 100 percent college acceptance as did their predecessors.
Additionally, I recently spoke to two TSA alumni who are graduating early from college because of the dual enrollment classes at Thomas Sumter. Again, what a testimony to the TSA faculty. With the cost of college these days, how would you, as a parent (or student), like to be able to only pay for three years of college instead of four? All because of the dual-enrollment classes TSA offers.
Great teachers, great academics and great sports all in a safe learning environment conducive to learning. - Dr. F.L. Martin III
Sumter School District
Duke TIP recipients announced
The Duke TIP Seventh Grade Talent Search identifies academic strength, develops abilities and interests, and celebrates achievement at a crucial time when students are forming their identities and looking ahead to the future. Eligible seventh-graders may register to take either the ACT or SAT. These students are identified as Duke TIP because of a high qualifying score on a recent grade-level test.
Duke TIP students from Alice Drive Middle School are Sara Bartrug, Peyton Eisenach, Carlos Hebert, Yesheo Lee, Zoe Morgan, Grace Lynn Thode, Julianna Valcourt and Shirley Wang.
From Bates Middle School, Duke TIP students are Zion Cobb, Taylor Gardenour, Malik Hannah and Andrew O'Brien.
From Chestnut Oaks Middle, Makayla De'Lay, Sheriyah Hicks, Blakelyn Pearson and Lidia Ruiz-Gutierrez were recognized.
From Ebenezer Middle School, Duke Tip recognized Briel Crespo, Morgan Mitchell, Janiyah Morton, Elora Osaki, Caleb Parker and Myah Cate Wilber.
From Hillcrest Middle School, Duke TIP students are Owen Cacal, David Collier, Lauren Feeney, Layla Krug, Jiyarien McLeod, Jayla Ricks and Evan Stevens.
Of those invited to participate in the program, the following students qualified and were invited to attend the state recognition ceremony: Lee Yesheo from Alice Drive Middle; Owen Cacal and Layla Krug from Hillcrest Middle; and Lidia Ruiz-Gutierrez from Chestnut Oaks Middle. Lee Yesheo was also invited to the Duke TIP Grand Recognition ceremony at Duke University. This is an honor awarded to about three percent of Talent Search participants.
Junior Scholars named
Twenty-eight students in Sumter School District have been named South Carolina Junior Scholars. The program was developed in 1985 by the S.C. Department of Education to identify eighth-graders with exceptional academic talent and to develop strategies for inclusion into special programs. These students are selected based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT or by recognition from Duke University's Talent Identification Program.
From Alice Drive Middle School, the students were Ella Alan, Mia Bagwell, Abbey-Grace Bryant, Rebecca Closson, Anna Collins, Ryu Kim, Kelvin Li, Hayden Lyons, Katie McKellar, Molly McMahon, Jayden Milligan, William Moore, Althea Vicete and Lillian Williamson.
From Bates Middle School, Kimberly Boles, Adriana McCallister, Kobe Moses and Xander Phalin were honored.
Alddie Zarraga from Furman Middle School and Patrick Dinger and James Page from Ebenezer Middle School were named Junior Scholars.
From Hillcrest Middle School, the students were Julianna Hodge, Breanna Lundberg, Alannah Oliver and Katelyn Robertson.
The students will receive an Award of Merit certificate from the South Carolina Department of Education and may be invited to attend summer opportunities at participating South Carolina colleges and universities.
Seamless Summer Feeding program announced
The Seamless Summer Option Summer Feeding Program allows school food authorities to provide free, nutritious meals and snacks to children 18 years of age or younger during summer vacation periods. A person 19 years of age and over with a mental or physical disability as determined by a state or local educational agency and who participates during the school year in a public or private nonprofit school program may also participate in the program.
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Participating sites can choose breakfast and lunch, breakfast and snack, or lunch and a snack per day per child per site. Sites may be a school, church, recreation center, camp, playground or community park.
The Summer Feeding Program will operate from Monday, June 11, through Friday, Aug. 3. The program will be closed only on July 4.
Breakfast meals consist of one serving of one percent or nonfat milk, one serving of a vegetable or fruit or full-strength juice and one serving of grain or bread. Hot or cold lunch meals consist of one serving of one percent or nonfat milk, one serving of grain/bread, one serving meat/meat alternate, one serving of fruit and one serving of vegetable. Snack meals consist of two food items from two different food components. Food components are one percent or nonfat milk, vegetable, fruit, grain and meat/meat alternate. Food pans, serving utensils, napkins, gloves, condiments and food transporting containers will be provided. All meals must be consumed on site, with the exception of whole fruits or closed packaged grain products and must be served to children within one hour after delivery.
A representative from each participating site/program must attend one training and orientation session sponsored by Sumter School District to qualify for the program. Sites must provide adequate supervision during meal service. All sites are expected to adhere to local health and Sumter School District food safety guidelines and must have adequate storage and working refrigeration. Site representatives are required to maintain and submit daily reports.
Visit the district website at www.sumterschools.net to download and complete an application. The completed application may be mailed to Sumter Food and Nutrition Services, PO Box 909, Dalzell, SC, 29040, faxed to (803) 499-5959, or emailed to Stacey.Champagne@sumterschools.net. For further information or questions, contact Leon Williams, Food Service Director, at (803) 499-5950, extension 109, or Stacey Champagne, summer feeding coordinator at (803) 499-5950, extension 105. - Shelly Galloway
The Citadel
CHARLESTON - Twenty of the newest Air Force officers took their commissioning oath on May 4 in Summerall Chapel, The Citadel. The cadets were officially sworn in as officers during the South Carolina Corps of Cadets commencement ceremony on May 5.
Local cadets who took their commissioning oath to become Air Force officers include: John Shaddrick of Sumter and Devin Singleton of Shaw AFB.
At the South Carolina Corps of Cadets Awards Convocation held May 3, 50 awards were presented to cadets and active-duty students in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments. Michelle Banzon of Sumter was presented the Intramural Athlete of the Year Award. The Intramural Athlete of the Year Award is presented to cadets who have shown outstanding performance in intramural competition demonstrating athleticism, sportsmanship and competitive spirit. Battalion and company athletic officers nominate the recipients each year.