People

SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT approved the promotion of Gregory W. Watchinski to the position of principal of Carolina Springs Elementary School. Watchinski has 15 years of education experience, and currently serves as the assistant principal of Carolina Springs Elementary School.

ST. JOHN NEUMANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL was honored with the Catholic Schools for Tomorrow Innovations in Education Award, which is given to only 12 schools across the country each year. St. John Neumann was honored for marketing catholic schools by utilizing parent resources, barter and trade tactics and ingenuity.

RICHLAND 1 STUDENTS Byron Keith Robins Jr., Columbia High School; and Latisha Robinson, A.C. Flora High School; were named 2012 Gates Millennium Scholars. The highly prestigious award will pay the entire cost of their college education through graduation, including graduate school.

BLYTHEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL social studies teacher John Goldsborough has been named the 2012 Middle School Teacher of the Year by the S.C. Bar Law Related Education (LRE) Division. Goldsborough was selected because of his ability to communicate a deep respect for the law to a diverse group of middle school students.

COMMUNITY

POLICE CHIEF RANDY SCOTT received his fourth star as a symbolic gesture from Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and City Council. Scott received the award for his dedication and commitment to Columbia Citizens in the year that he has been the city’s top cop.

SOUTH CAROLINA ARTIST STEVEN WHETSTONE recently visited the eighth-grade Honors Art class at Fulmer Middle School to present his artwork and discuss his career. Whetstone was a Lexington District 2 student and attended the S.C. Governors School for the Arts and the University of South Carolina.

LEXINGTON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER inmates recently graduated from a six-week culinary arts training class. The graduates include Thomas Albert Lipford, Ronald Milhouse, Maurice Jackie Simmons and Cameron Charles Stoker each received certificates during a graduation ceremony.

YOUTH

RACHEL BRYSON of Columbia has been recognized for earning the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest award that a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador in grades 9-12 can earn. Bryson focused on the hunger issue for her Gold Award project.

MILITARY

AIR FORCE AIRMAN 1st CLASS ANNA L. TISSLER has completed basic training with distinction as an honor graduate at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The daughter of Helmet Tissler of Lexington, she is a graduate of Lexington High School and the University of South Carolina.

AIR NATIONAL GUARD AIRMAN LA NEESHA N. WILLIAMS has graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Tanya Moore of Columbia.

MARINE CORPS PFC. WARREN B. HILL JR. has completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. He is the son of Warren B. Hill of Columbia.

AIR FORCE AIRMAN MARCUS L. COLEMAN graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Veronica Lacy of Swansea.