SCHOOLS
RICHLAND NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL DRILL TEAM won first place honors for the Color Guard competition at Navy JROTC Nationals. The team won a first place trophy for Color Guard, fourth place trophy for Personnel Inspection and a fifth place trophy for Team Push-Ups.
LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE approved the appointment of Jo H. Mayer to human resources in the district office and the promotion of Ryan L. Player as the principal of White Knoll High School. Mayer has over 40 years of education experience, and Player has 12 years of education experience.
PATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ROSENWALD ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL guidance teacher Jennifer Berry was named Darlington County’s 2012 Outstanding First Year Teacher. Berry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and a Master of Education degree in counselor education: school counseling.
AIRPORT HIGH SCHOOL JROTC DRILL TEAM competed and placed sixth overall in the National High School Drill Team Championship. Among this year’s accolades, the team also placed first overall at four Greater Midlands Area Drill Meets.
COMMUNITY
LAUREN BIGGERSTAFF of Lexington received Honorable Mention in the Special Olympics Lovin’ Compassion Award for starting the Be a Fan Club at Lexington High School. The club’s mission is to change the way high school students view special needs students and learn to accept and show respect.
ALLSTATE AGENCY OWNER LAURIE GRINER received the 2012 Allstate Agency Hands in the Community Award for her commitment to helping others. The award came with a $1,000 grant for the Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter in Columbia, which is where Griner volunteers.
LAURA MCMAHAN AND DAVID LONGSTREET were presented Citizen’s Awards by Chief Terrence Green for the impact they made on the town citizens. McMahan received the Honorary Captain Award of the Lexington Police Department, and Longstreet received an engraved wooden memory box for heroic actions that saved the lives of two citizens.
LEXINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT DEPUTIES AND LEXINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS will donate $6,000 to South Carolina Special Olympics, which was raised during the Cops and Calabash fundraiser.
YOUTH
FULMER MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ artwork is on display in the Harry Hampton Visitor Center at the Congaree National Park through July. The students include David Cook, Jeremiah Clyburn, Katie Ann Cox, Jenna Feaster, Madison Gable, Michaela Hernandez, Alaina Humphries, Will Lorick, Tanner Mums, Janeth Posas, Roeshell Robinson, NaSeeha Sabrce, Meredith Smith, Hailey Stokes and Cassidy Tronco.
MAKAELA SHEALY was accepted into New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Shealy, a Gilbert High School graduate, is one of the 64 students accepted into the Musical Theatre Studio Program.
MILITARY
LINDA C. WADE has been promoted to the rank of major in the U.S. Army’s Below-the-Zone promotion system. She is the daughter of Linda C. Richardson of Columbia.
NAVY SEAMAN RECRUIT SAMUEL E. GORDON has completed basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. The son of Alecia M. Mitchell of Columbia, he is a graduate of Dreher High School.
AIR FORCE RESERVE AIRMAN ALLIYAH CORLEON graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. A niece of Crystal Hollins of Columbia, she is a 2008 graduate of Eau Claire High School.
ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PVT. THOMAS J. MORRIS graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson. He is the son of Rose Morris of Gilbert.
