Pelion teacher’s resume is a recipe for excellence

Pelion High Culinary Arts instructor Rhonda Woods has been named 2015 South Carolina ProStart Educator of Excellence by The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Woods was recognized with more than 35 other state-level winners at the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s Educator of Excellence awards reception in Illinois earlier this month.

ProStart is a two-year high school program that teaches students about restaurant management and culinary arts. Pelion High is one of 61 South Carolina schools that offer the program.

White Knoll win is robotic

White Knoll Middle School’s Robotics Team claimed first place in the project research category this year’s South Carolina FIRST LEGO League West State Championship.

Sixty teams competed in four judged areas that included core values, project, robot design and robot performance.

Team members include Denis Champoux, Lexie Goad, Timothy Gilpatrick, Zion Grant, Jordon Harsey, Mak Hulon and Brace Hutchison.

Kathleen Brown and Alan Lominick coach the team.

Planting seeds of future farmers

Gilbert High School’s Future Farmers of America Forestry Team finished first in the South Carolina FFA Forestry Career Development Event at Manchester State Forest in Sumter County.

The students completed a general knowledge exam that included tree identification, tree measurement and two studies of on forestry-related topics.

Forestry team members include Walker Blount, Forrest Burkett, Nathen Hilley, Joey King and Jordan Lindler.

A precision win

The Blythewood High School Bengal battalion drill team claimed top color guard honors during the recent JROTC High School Nationals.

The battalion’s color guard competed against 30 other teams of various JROTC branches.

The color guard was commanded by Cadet James Collins, a third-year student, who carried the American flag. Cadet Alicia Riley carried the state flag, and cadets Michael Taylor and Daven Wilson served as rifle guards.