Education News: June 10, 2018

Sumter School District

Graduation ceremonies held

Crestwood and Lakewood high school graduations were held Friday at Sumter County Civic Center. Sumter High School graduation was held Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Crestwood's valedictorian was Aaliyah Charlot, and the salutatorian was Andrew Smith. Lakewood's valedictorian was Sydney Gonzales, and the salutatorian was Hannah Partin.

Sumter's valedictorian was McKenzie Faye Michelson, and the salutatorian was Nesreen Taher Almosadder. These top two graduates from each school gave a commencement address.

Junior Marshals assisted with the ceremony. Marshals are chosen from among the top academic performers in the current 11th grade.

From Crestwood, Chief Junior Marshal was Zaniya Simone Cooley, and marshals were Erin Kelly Currier, Selena Chantae Vaughn, Albert Deshawn Gardner, Nathan Ray Schrader, Brandy Angele'a Lemmon, Blaire Elisabeth Lewis, Ladarah Talia Daniels, Aliyah Simone Grady, Ja'Breyah Cy'Nae James, Alexandra Monserrat Manzo, Kelsie Cheyenne Ratliff, Krysten Alexis Skinner, Deliasha Shantanique Green, Dontae Malik Capers, Alaya Keara Richardson, Aaliya Sherre Wilson, Kaitlynn Marie Horton, Samantha Imogene Worthen, John Martin Dunleavy, Adorjan Angel Goomansingh, Eric Shane Gaymon, Kodesia Gertashia Scarborough, Carson Gerard Dick, Brittany Megan Adkins, Aiyana Msaada Dukes, Shonique Nicole Howard, Thomas Benjamin Pace, Anna Rose Sales Hernandez, Kendrick Jermar Bennett, Apisara Nokaew, Abigail Marilyn Parker, Christopher Jarod Fortune, Da ijuiana Ma Liah Jefferson, Elizabeth Nichole Spurlock, Emily Taylor Ragan, Jessica Anyse Davis, Indyia Malaysia Jackson and Gloria Lisset Reyes-Quirino.

Lakewood High School's Chief Marshal was Emily McWilliams. Marshals were Ke'Aundra Benjamin, Ty Asia Brunson, Kevin Carson, Tucker Chapman, Jayden Christmas, Valencia Croom, Bailey Dickson, Trent Frye, Donavon Grider, Gianna Hill, Faith Howard, Makayla Johnson, Micah Johnson, Jonathan Paul Jones, Janiece Matthews, Scott McConn, Tyress Patterson, Juwan Perdue, Alejandro Pineda-Cardenas, Malik Richardson, Kali Roland, Brittany Sanders, Dayjah Sanseverino and Nia Tindal.

Sumter High School's junior marshals were Jordan Ali, Kayleigh Benenhaley, Jasmine Brunson, Lauren Carneal, Samara Castleberry, Emily Cook, Joshua DeWitt, Heather Gamble, Hailey Gosnell, Sophia Haughton, Jacob Holladay, Cassidy Kitchens, George McGregor, Kaitlyn Michelson, Owen Midgette, Sessaly Mitchell-Nelson, Ann Margaret Phillips, Tianna Roberts, Jordan Shuping, Emily Simmons, Ja'Niya Singleton, Katherine Singleton, Perrin Thompson, Kylie Timmons, Benjamin Tower, John Williams, Trinity Wilson-El, Ethan Witt and Ambria Woolever.

The combined senior classes of Crestwood, Lakewood and Sumter high schools earned more than $19.3 million in scholarships for post-secondary educations.

Perfect attendance recognized

Four Sumter School District seniors have been recognized for 12 years of perfect attendance. Congratulations to J'Quan Tylek Jenkins-Johnson, Shekinah Victoria Lonon and Morgan Elizabeth Pringle from Sumter High and Kyle Boothe from Crestwood High.

"To graduate without missing a single day of class in your 12-year academic career is a unique accomplishment that is the culmination of hard work and determination. I know these students are well prepared for the next step after high school, and I congratulate them, their parents, and their teachers on this achievement," State Superintendent of Education Mollie Spearman said.

Student selected for Forum

This summer, Anthony Dinkins-McCall will join outstanding high school students from across the nation in National Youth Leadership Forum Engineering and Technology at University of California, Berkeley. NYLF is one of the Envision family of programs that enable students to explore their interests and experience learning beyond the classroom.

Anthony, a rising junior at Sumter High School, was nominated by his teachers. In addition to being a youth camp mentor and adviser, he is active in community service. Anthony loves playing varsity football, as well as track and basketball. While aspiring to be a mechanical engineer, Anthony is looking forward to gaining hands-on experience. - Shelly Galloway

Central Carolina Technical College

Snap Back to School Bash

CCTC will host its first Back to School Bash on Saturday, July 21, from 9 a.m. to noon on the college's Main Campus in Sumter. Students attending the event will receive free school supplies, learn about CCTC and tour the campus. The event will provide free entertainment, unique food vendors, community resource agencies, a safety zone and a kids zone.

This year's theme is "Snap" Back to School. The first 10 students to Snapchat the event will receive a prize. For more information or to become a vendor/sponsor, contact Angela Conyers at (803) 666-2422 or Diana Green at (803) 473-2531.

Registration open

Register now for fall semester at CCTC. Regardless if you are interested in learning a skilled trade or transferring to a four-year college or university using one of our 13 admission agreements, CCTC delivers an affordable pathway to your success. 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

Morris College

Students accepted to institute

Two Morris College students, Jasmine Rogers (freshman) and Olivia Mason (junior), attended the NEW Leadership South Carolina Institute May 13-17 at Winthrop University in Rock Hill.

The program is sponsored by the John C West Forum on Politics and Policy at Winthrop University and College of Charleston. NEW Leadership South Carolina is a part of the NEW Leadership Development Network established at the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University. Both attendees received a $100 scholarship from Winthrop University and a donation of $150 from attorney J. David Weeks to cover the cost of the institute.

The purpose of NEW Leadership South Carolina is to educate college women regarding the political process and to inspire them to consider careers in public service. In spite of recent gains, including the election of its first female governor in 2010, S.C. ranks 47th in the percentage of women in the state legislature, and women are underrepresented on public boards, commissions and statewide offices.

During the institute, students met women leaders, studied women in American politics and developed and practiced leadership skills through panel discussions, workshops and hands-on projects. The students will return to Morris College in the fall to continue developing public leadership skills and become involved in community affairs. - Anika Cobb