Richland One announces National Awards, Honors
February 26, 2018
Lower Richland Cadet Receives National Army ROTC Scholarship and West Point Preparatory Academy Appointment
Lower Richland High School JROTC Cadet Anastasia Nelson is worthy of double honors. In addition to receiving a tuition-free appointment to the US Military Academy Preparatory School at West Point, Cadet Nelson also has been selected to receive the National Army ROTC Scholarship. The ROTC award is a three-year full-tuition scholarship with a monthly stipend and allowances for books and fees. Army ROTC scholarships are awarded based on student merit and grades. Nelson, who is also a gifted violinist, is described by Lower Richland JROTC instructor Major (Ret.) Darryl Kelly as a “dynamic student.”
Columbia High School Senior accepted to West Point
Columbia High School senior Michael Mathews has been accepted to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point as a member of the class of 2022. Mathews is the son of proud parents Michael Ray and Jerry Mathews. He is a JROTC Cadet Colonel as well as the Cadet Group Commander and the recipient of four medals, 28 ribbons and the Warrior Spirit Award. At Columbia High, he is the captain of the cross country and wrestling teams, as well as a member of the track team, model United Nations and honors orchestra. Mathews plans to major in political science at the USMA and then pursue a career in military intelligence.
Richland One Dropout Prevention Coordinator Wins National Award
Richland One Dropout Prevention and Evening High School Coordinator Kerry Abel is the recipient of the 2018 National Dropout Prevention Center’s Governor and Mrs. Richard W. Riley Award for Excellence in Dropout Prevention. Dr. Sandy Addis, Director of the National Dropout Prevention Center, (left) presented Abel (right) with the award at the 2018 At-Risk Youth National Forum Conference on February 20. This award recognizes an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of dropout prevention initiatives in South Carolina.
New Richland One Board Certified Teachers Recognized
Richland One’s five newest National Board-certified teachers recently were recognized by the district’s Board of School Commissioners and Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon. National Board certification is the highest credential available in the teaching profession. Pictured are (from left) Dr. Witherspoon; Brittany Brown from Pendergrass Fairwold School; John Heider, A.C. Flora High School; Kristen S. Jones, Brockman Elementary School; Tammy Mickey, A.C. Flora High School; Padma Thumma, Alcorn Middle School; Commissioner Beatrice King; Dr. Remona Jenkins, district coach for National Board certification and induction teacher programs; and Commissioner Darrell Black.
Dreher High School Girls’ Soccer Team Wins Academic Award
The 2016-17 Dreher High School Girls’ Soccer Team under Coach David Kleinfelder has received the High School Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The team’s weighted GPA of 4.63 was the highest reported among the 217 participating teams nationwide. The Team Academic Award is an annual award that recognizes student athletes’ excellence in the classroom. For a team to be considered, all players on the roster must be included in the calculation of the team GPA.
A.C. Flora Baseball Achieves Top 25 National Ranking
The A.C. Flora Falcons have been ranked 24th best in the nation for the 2018 season by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. In addition, student-athletes Will Bethea, Leighton Long and Caleb Speedy have been named as players to watch in South Carolina. The Falcons’ first home game of the season will be March 13. For more details about the national ranking, click http://baseballnews.com/?s=A.C.+Flora+High+School .
Lower Richland Diamond Battalion Leadership Team Advances in JROTC Leadership Bowl
Lower Richland High School’s Diamond Battalion Leadership JROTC Team has been selected from more than 1,327 JROTC teams nationally to advance to Level II of the National JROTC Leadership Bowl (JLAB). The Army JROTC Leadership Bowl is an academic leadership competition utilizing ACT/SAT test, current events and JROTC-related questions in a competitive manner to prepare students for college.
The Diamond Battalion Team is coordinated by Cadet/Sergeant Major Ronald Fuller, and includes Team Captain Cadet Quinshawn Norwood and team members Ja’Mani Rowes, Sara Thompson, Lauryn Lacewell, Robert Ingram and Jasmine Urbina. The Diamond Battalion Leadership Team cadets will have the chance to compete for the opportunity to become one of the 40 teams that will participate in the National JROTC Leadership Championship in Washington D.C.
