EDUCATION
THE SUMTER ITEM
Sumter Christian School SUMMER DAY CAMP UNDERWAY Summer Day Camp is still available for students enrolled in SCS this year or next year. The cost is $3.10 per hour, but there is a cap of $90 per week with any time over 29 hours free. It opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. weekdays during the summer except on July 3 and will continue through Open House Day on Aug. 14. Also, the office will remain open on weekdays during the summer from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for anyone interested in viewing the school or considering enrollment for the fall term beginning Aug. 17.
STUDENTS HAVE A PLAN The faculty and staff would like to congratulate the senior class of 2015 for having finished a difficult task well. After graduating, De’Aundria Barr plans to enter the U.S. Air Force. T.J. Barron plans to attend University of South Carolina and is undecided in his field of study. Dixie Jones plans to work until the spring of 2016 then enter Central Carolina Technical College to study nursing. Salutatorian Katelynn Mahoney plans to attend Bob Jones University, majoring in chemistry and minoring in biology to pursue a career in forensic pathology. Arianah Medlock plans to major in biology at Wingate University. Aaron Pekuri is undecided in his major but plans to attend Central Carolina Technical College. Medina Richardson plans to attend Francis Marion University to study pediatric nursing. Valedictorian Ta’Niss Robinson plans to major in political science at Winthrop University. Victoria Rollings plans to attend Bob Jones University to major in elementary education. Kevin Taffe Jr. plans to work for a year then attend Central Carolina Technical College in the fall of 2016. — Miriam Marritt
University of South Carolina Sumter APPLY NOW FOR FALL 2015 It’s not too late to apply for fall 2015 at University of South Carolina Sumter. Contact the Office of Admissions Services at (803) 938-3717 for information on entrance requirements for the fall or to schedule a visit. Scholarships and financial aid are available. Call or visit USC Sumter today. More information is available online at www.uscsumter.edu. — Misty Hatfield
Sumter School District GRADUATION CEREMONIES HELD Crestwood and Lakewood high school graduations were held Friday at Sumter County Civic Center. The Sumter High School graduation was held Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Crestwood Distinguished Honor Graduates were valedictorian William Wayne Russ II and salutatorian Zarriah Alyse Taylor. Lakewood’s Distinguished Honor Graduates were valedictorian Austin Tyler Griswold and salutatorian Sonora Eugenia Dengokl. Sumter High School’s valedictorian was Angela Marie Williams, and the salutatorian was Chynna Chane’l Wilson. Each of these top students made commencement addresses, offering words of encouragement and inspiration to their classmates. Other Crestwood Honor Graduates, in addition to Russ and Taylor, were Cadeshia Alexis Benjamin, Kyree Deontae-Tyrone Brisbone, Erika Leigh Comfort, Chanteria Dominique Conyers, Elizabeth Leilani Cordero, Rochelle Paris Couture, Chelsee Patrice Davis, Nathan Eric Davis, Nathaniel Montrell Ervin, Cassaundra Leigh Folderman, Patricia Jeannette Foote, Winter Aliah Grant, Anthony Giovanni Hill, Brandon Song Huynh, Stephanie Kathleen Johnson, Nicholas James Kline, Angelica Guadalupe Manzo Ramirez, Jose Eleazar Martinez Castillo, Stephanie Nicole McAdoo, Brendan Alexander Miller, Wesley Thomas Pittman, Donald James Rutledge, Dillon Michael Sierra, Westley Dale Simpson, Rebecca Bowinn Travis, Alexander Brennan Vereen, Jamar Andrea Williams, Kelly Marie Wollenberg and Kyle Anthony Wright. Additional Lakewood Honor Graduates, in addition to Griswold and Dengokl, were Meryl Bayley Baker, Lindsey Cheyenne Barwick, Alyssa Marie Cardone, Amanda Priscilla Felder, Jean Grace Fox, William James Harris, Raymond Lang Jr., Jazmine Taiyana McBride, Mireille-Simone Charlie-Girl McCabe, Joseph Daniel McDonald, Kara Nicole McKnight, Vannia Monserrat Moreno Gil, Jonaleah Breanna Moroz, Taylor Louise Odom, April Darlene Overby, Kiana Celena Pringle, Gardenia Alexandria Rembert, De’ja Alease Richardson, Kendrel Seara Tindal, Andre Trashawn Washington, Gabriella Zena Williams, and Breanna Nichelle Wright. In addition to the Sumter High School valedictorian Williams and salutatorian Wilson, honor graduates were Jason Garrett Adams, Adrian Fitzgerald Anderson, Gavin Cole Arnold, Ahmed Ali Atta, Michelle Marie Atwood, Erika Ann Atwood, Benjamin Joseph Austin, Kirstin Alexandra Berard, Trevor William Bertha, Hannah Walton Bordeaux, Erin Elaine Bradford, Shannon Colleen Chaney, Nicholas Ryan Darrow, Dean-
na Susan Demarte, Lameshia Tamera Dennis, Dylan Gregory Drown, Danielle Laverne Fane, Ashley Elizabeth Gantt, Mekeisha Ardenia Gibbons, Kion’na Rene Greene, Dante Charles Hartman, Ceili Elizabeth Hesselgrave, Madison Amber Hodge, Damonique Chanelle Ishman, Keelan Richard Leon KaneYearman, Tyler Nesmith King, Dalton James Kirkhart, Mary Ann Koty, Lyndsay Beverly Krebs, Tiara Janay Lonon, Katherine Lorena Lynch, Malcolm Major-Wright, Logan Thomas Marks, Alison Lynn Mathew, Naomi Kianna McQuiller, Alexxis Lyn’chelle Mitchell, Sophie Eleonore Mobius, Jalah Shauntese Moore-Wilson, Trevor Depra Moxley, Marc Anthony Ojeda, Ryan Alexander Perez, Anna Elizabeth Perry, Lauren Alyssa Pringle, Sarah McKenzie QuinnBarnett, Shelby Anne Reynolds, Holly Marie Richardson, James Allen deFigueiredo Riggs, Jennifer Katelyn Roberson, Emily Lauren Russell, Ashley Nicole Schaffer, Jillian Nicole Schneider, Patrick J’Waun Scott, Destiny Toreyetta Shropshire, Kayla Alexis Small, LaRaven Abr’ iana Temoney, Mary Helen Timmons, Rebecca Marie Twitty, Vincent Anthony Watkins, Sarah Veronica Weaver, Xaviera Jasmine Webb, Ally Kaelynn Welborn, Kamri Aaliyah Wiliams, Taylor Janell Willis and Ting Ting Yau. 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 Jaxon Sellars. Honor marshals were Wilfredo Anderson, Xavier Charlot, Diamonte Commander, Allison Cox, Nicolas Davis, Khaura Day, Micaela Harris, Hope Hillsman, Nikko Hunter, Aiyana Jones, Ariana Keele, Collin Kremer, Antoine Lowry, Dajuan McDonald, Alexis Padar, Kimberly Patterson-Little, Amani Sanders, Cassidy Small, Precious Thompson, Michaela Tindal, Sade Turner, Benjamin Wessendorf and Jonah Williams. Lakewood High School’s Junior Honor Marshals were chief marshal Viktoria Eaddy, Ivy Benenhaley and Kendra Kennedy. Junior Marshals were Jonte’ Alston, Chandler Anderson, Erin Brevard, Jalaina Brown, Alphonzo Choice, Ben Evans, Alexis Haley, Brianna Hicks, Kenyanna Howard, Halie Josey, Matthew Keyes, Simon Levy, Kelsey Madison, Christian McDonald, Tyasia Nelson-Pringle, Elizabeth Orban, Richaben Patel, Aaliyah Stokes, Patrice Washington and Justin Yates. Sumter High School’s honor marshals were McLean Achziger, Jonathan Austin, Kaitlynn Cook, Anna Elmore, Savannah Jordan, Hannah Moore, Emily Mulholland, Monica Ortiz, William Stallings and Caryn Tabalana. Junior marshals at Sumter High were Schyler Anderson, Kiana Colclough, Nathaniel Dabbs, Caroline Flowers, Shalia Francis, Hannah Gamble, Sarah Green, Jessica Griffin, Shayvonne Harvin, Sarah Jones, Daytona McDonald, Natasha McKnight, Meagan McMahon, Zoe Mooneyham, Turner Newman, Aidan O’Connor, Rhiannon Ridgeway, Treva Walker and Jalen Williams. The combined senior classes of Crestwood, Lakewood and Sumter high schools earned more than $30.6 million in scholarships for their postsecondary educations.
Thursdays and closed on Fridays. All operations will be closed June 29 to July 10, with the district reopening on Monday, July 13. Regular Monday through Friday operation will resume Aug. 10. Students return for the 2015-16 school year on Monday, Aug. 17.
SEAMLESS SUMMER PROGRAM Through the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Seamless Summer Food Service Program, Sumter School District will offer meals at no charge to eligible children without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion or natural origin. The program makes meals available to children 18 years of age or younger and those 19 years old with a disability and enrolled in school. Tentative dates for program operation are June 8 to July 31. Meals will be served at the following sites and to these groups: Sumter High School (football), Millwood Elementary School (PERK), Cherryvale Community Center, Ebenezer Community Center, M.H. Newton Family Life Center, Salvation Army (Boys & Girls Club), Enon Missionary Baptist Church, North HOPE Center, South HOPE Center, Wilder Elementary School (PERK and Camp Soar), Manchester Elementary School (PARD), Rembert/Rafting Creek Community Center, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Delaine Community Center, South Sumter Park (PARD), Birnie HOPE Center, Haynsworth Center (PARD), Reid Chapel AME Church, Pinewood Gardens Community Center, High Hills AME Church, Rast Street Apartments, A Teacher’s Place, Friendship Apartments, Pocalla Springs Elementary School (PARD), Crestwood High School (football), Harmony Court Apartments, Alice Drive Middle School, Lemira Elementary School, Shabach Summer Program, St. Paul AME Church, Lakewood High School (football), Shiloh Community Center, Lantana Apartments, Crosswell Drive Elementary School, Prophetic Destiny Ministries, Bates Middle School, Salterstown Community Center, Mayesville Pool, Mayesville Middle, Catchall Community Center, Westend Community Center, St. Paul AME, Kids Klub and Eastern Community Center. Other sites will be added as available. For more information, call Leon Williams, director of food services, at (803) 499-5950, extension 109. Any person who thinks he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should write immediately to the Secretary of Adjudication, Washington, D.C. 20250. — Mary B. Sheridan
Lee County School District BISHOPVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL ANNEX During the week of May 25, animal ambassadors Kaylee Schwartz and Angela Saunders visited Bishopville Primary School Annex. During their visit, fifth-graders Ella Lorick and Khalir Hannibal were able to participate in the presentation.
LOWER LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL On Tuesday, Lower Lee Elementary School held Old Fashioned Field Day for its students. Students, teachers and volunteers had a great time participating in the sporting activities.
TEACHER RECEIVES GRANT
WEST LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Patty Hansen, a seventh-grade English language arts teacher at Alice Drive Middle School, has been awarded a Samsung Military Curriculum grant, available through Scholastic National Partnerships. The grant was awarded to only 10 teachers throughout the United States. It will pay for 20 Samsung tablets and military curriculum for her classroom. The award was based on the number of military students in the school and the need for technology in the classroom. Hansen will use the tablets for STEM activities and for group work in which students are able to share the tablets. Hansen plans to incorporate the military curriculum into her English language arts classes and also use it for career exploration. She plans to share her tablets with other teachers who need them for their classrooms.
On Tuesday, West Lee Elementary School had its Move-up Ceremony for students in grades 4K and 5K. Congratulations to all of the upcoming kindergarteners and first-graders. The Grade 5 Promotion Ceremony was held at West Lee Elementary School on Wednesday. Meteorologist Von Gaskin from WIS TV 10 was the guest speaker. She did a great job motivating the students. Congratulations to all of the fifth-graders. Grades 1 through 4 participated in an Awards Day Program on Thursday. Congratulations on all of your awards and achievements this year.
PARENT EDUCATION FAIR REMINDER
LEE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
The Sumter School District Title I Office will host a Parent Education Fair on Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. at Sumter County Adult Education Center, 905 N. Main St. Parents interested in pursuing a GED, an associate degree or certificate for a specific program of study or a bachelor’s degree are invited to attend. Several local colleges and universities will be available to discuss options for parents for advancing their education. For further information, contact Arthena Woods, Title I Coordinator, at (803) 469-6900, extension 506, or email her at arthena.woods@sumterschools.net.
On Saturday, Lee Central High School participated in commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2015. Congratulations to all of LCHS 2015 graduates.
END-OF-THE-YEAR INFORMATION Thursday was the last day of student attendance for the 2014-15 school year, and Friday was a teacher workday. Beginning this week, summer hours will be in effect in Sumter School District. The district offices and schools will be open extended hours Mondays through
LEE CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL The 8th grade Promotion Ceremony was held on Thursday at Lee Central Middle School. Congratulations to the rising ninth-graders.
LEE COUNTY ADULT EDUCATION Lee County Adult Education is offering summer school opportunities. Session 1 started on May 18 and will end on June 11. Session 2 will be June 15 to July 23. For more information, contact Lee County Adult Education at (803) 484-4040 or (803) 484-4200. The Graduation and Recognition Ceremony for Lee County Adult Education will be held Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Lee Central High School Auditorium.
DISTRICTWIDE Lee County School District offered districtwide health screenings on Friday. The health care provider for this event was Carolina Occupational Health Screening Group. The event was a success. If you would like addi-
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tional information regarding future screenings, contact Willistine Simon at (803) 484-5327. Project LEAD II Summer Camps and Enrichment Programs will begin on Monday and run weekdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. until July 3. Students will receive academic support and skills as well as credit and attendance recovery programs. Transportation will be provided as well as breakfast and lunch for those students in attendance. If you would like more information about the programs offered, contact the Office of Instruction at (803) 484-5327. — Kara Fowler
Wilson Hall EVERY SENIOR RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP Each of the 60 members of the Class of 2015 received merit-based scholarship offers totaling $5.7 million. The class earned three National Merit Scholarships, 16 full academic scholarships, 33 half academic scholarships, seven Palmetto Fellow Scholarships and 40 Life Scholarships. Life Scholarships are offered by the state to students who meet two of the following criteria: minimum 3.0 GPA, minimum combined score of 1100 on the SAT or rank in the top 30 percent of the graduating class. The following is a partial list of scholarship recipients compiled from information submitted to the college counselor, Diane Richardson. Chase Belk received a Dixie Youth Baseball Scholarship and a S.C. State Fair Scholarship, and Kendall Brogdon received a Sumter County Historical Society Scholarship. Branson Bruce received a S.C. Youth Shooting Foundation Scholarship, LauraClare Thevenet received the Elizabeth Caton Book Voice Scholarship, and Pierce Thompson received the Thompson Industrial Scholarship. Clemson University offered a Palmetto Pact Scholarship to Dex Buschor, Converse College offered a Trustee Honor Scholarship to Cynthia Hall, and Hampden-Sydney College offered a Boys State Scholarship to Thomas McGinnis. American University of Paris offered John Eagle Miles a scholarship, and Lander University offered Tia Richens an academic scholarship.
LATIN MEDALS Sophomore Sean Jackson and freshmen Joshua Easler, Matthew Tavarez and Aubrie Yarbrough received gold medals and Summa Cum Laude certificates for their performance on the National Latin Exam. Receiving silver medals and Maxima Cum Laude certificates were junior Anna Lyles, sophomore Sam Hilferty, freshman Meredith Johnson and eighthgraders Kennedy Davis and Katherine Grace Singleton. Their names will be published in the National Junior Classical League’s magazine, Torch U.S. More than 150,000 students worldwide enrolled in Latin classes took the National Latin Exam in April. Ben McIver is the teacher for the Latin I, II and III classes, and Diane Richardson teaches the Advanced Placement Latin class.
SENIOR SERVICE HOURS The 60 members of the Class of 2015 completed a total of 2,889 hours of community service during the school year. The four seniors completing the most hours of service were Gigi Moore (227 hours), Laura-Clare Thevenet (226), Bethany Knaff (146) and Breanna Kimbrell (131).
SPECIAL SPRING ATHLETIC AWARDS Several students received special recognition at the conclusion of the spring athletic season. Senior Chase Belk was named the S.C. Independent School Association AAA Baseball Player of the Year, and he was named to the SCISA AAA All-State Baseball Team along with junior Robert James and sophomore McLendon Sears. Along with senior Walker Patrick, these four players were also selected for the All-Star team which was coached by Pat Sears, an assistant coach for Wilson Hall’s varsity team. Belk was also named the Region II-AAA Player of the Year, and he was selected for the All-Region Team with James, junior Edward McMillan, sophomore Dawson Price, Patrick and Sears. Chosen for the All-State Golf Team were juniors Coker Lowder, Christian Salzer and Grier Schwartz, and Glen Rector was named the SCISA AAA Golf Coach of the Year. Salzer was named Region Player of the Year and was chosen for the All-Region Team with freshman Walker Jones, Schwartz, senior Raines Waggett and sophomore Easton Ward. Juniors Jake Croft and David Tussey were chosen for both the All-State and All-Star Teams for soccer, and they were selected for the All-Region Team with seniors Nathan Dilts and Cody Hoover. Chosen for the All-State Team for softball were freshman Drake Ives and senior Holly Scott, and they were named to the All-Star Team with junior Betsy Cunningham, sophomore Danielle deHoll and senior Hannah Jordan. Named to the All-Region Team were Cunningham, deHoll, Ives and Scott. Selected for the All-State Tennis Team were senior Trey Davis and sophomores Thomas Brown and Hunter Hendrix. — Sean Hoskins