COMMUNITY
THE EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY COUNCIL honored community leaders, educators, students and businesses during its 17th Annual Awards and Appreciation Dinner May 18. Among honorees: 2012 Dorcas J. Elledge Award for Community Service, Gail Baker, Hyatt Park; 2012 Business Leader of the Year, Pepsi Beverage Company and Gerald Patton; 2012 Educator of the Year, Myron Thomas, Eau Claire High School; 2012 Volunteers of the Year, Abd’Allah Adesanya, Ridgewood/Barony, Edith Tidwell, Burton Heights/Standish Acres, Mardean Salley, Northwood Hills, Dorthie McDuffie, Forest Heights, Bernetha Harrison, Gable Oaks, Dennis Black, Denny Terrace; and 2012 Student Achievement, Jahaad Ingram, Arden Elementary, Destiny J’nea Ford, Hyatt Park Elementary, Felix Samuel, John P. Thomas Elementary, Deandre Scott, Alcorn Middle, Minniya Muhammad, New Timbuktu Academy, Robert Lee Green III, Midlands Tech. Special recognition awards also were given to Caroline Whitson, president of Columbia College, the Rev. Marcus Miller, president of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, and Henry Hopkins, the council’s executive director.
COLUMBIA CITY COUNCIL member Belinda Gergel was recognized for her community contributions at the Sustainable Path Awards.
THE LAKE MURRAY-IRMO ROTARY CLUB was named Business Partner of the Year at Lexington-Richland 5’s recent Community Involvement Celebration. The club was nominated by Nursery Road Elementary.
SCHOOLS
NINE RIDGE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL students were recognized for their performance on the National Latin Exam: Melanie Asuncion, Saundra Hensley, Kyra Jackson, Cody Maddox, Nick Shealy, Amanda Spina, David Strange, Brianna Tennie and Anna White.
CAMDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL principal Ed Yount was named the Kershaw County School District’s Principal of the Year for 2011-12.
ALISA GOODMAN has been named the new executive director of instructional support programs for the Kershaw County School District.
COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL Career and Technology Education teacher Mark Kirlough received the 2011-12 National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) Inc. STEM Innovation Grant.
MILITARY
AIR FORCE AIRMAN DEVYN J. JONES has completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The son of Lisa Kelly of Columbia, Jones is a 2011 graduate of Irmo High School.
MARINE CORPS PFC. MORGAN E. WILLIAMS has completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. Williams is the son of Sonia and Timothy Wood of Columbia.
MARINE CORPS PVT. JESSE D. PARROTT has completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. He is the son of Susan L. and Robert D. Parrott of Columbia.
MARINE CORPS PVT. ISHAM C. SMITH has completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. Smith is the son of Pamelar and Lonnie Cheeks of Columbia.
YOUTH
AFIA KHAN was named a 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholar. Khan attends Spring Valley High School.
