Richland One Announces Honors and Awards

COLUMBIA, SC –

Dreher Graduate Receives Full ROTC Scholarship

Mikayla Cox, a 2014 graduate of Dreher High School, was awarded a full Marine Corps ROTC scholarship worth $180,000. She is attending Spelman College this fall. In order to earn the scholarship, Mikayla had to complete a Marine Corps physical fitness test, which included a three-mile run, sit-ups and a flex arm hang. While attending Dreher, Mikayla was the recipient of the Earl T. Ware Award, which is presented to an outstanding JROTC cadet.

Caughman Road Elementary Teacher Earns National Honor

Dr. Stephanie Trevitz, a special education teacher at Caughman Road Elementary School, has been selected by the National Education Association (NEA) to serve as a facilitator for the NEA Great Public Schools Network. The network is an online community of 137 groups where teachers, parents, school support professionals and other community members can share ideas and resources aimed at improving student success. More than 1,000 individuals applied to be facilitators of this new online network. Dr. Trevitz and 60 others were selected for their knowledge and understanding of the topic; ability to facilitate a national discussion presenting a range of differing viewpoints; technology skills needed to manage an online community; and, above all, their commitment to helping their fellow educators improve their skills to foster student success. Dr. Trevitz facilitates the early childhood grades (preK-second grade) special education group.

C.A. Johnson High School Teacher Attends Princeton University Institute

Kezia Valabhapuram, a biomedical sciences teacher at C.A. Johnson High School, was one of 18 teachers nationwide chosen to attend a molecular biology institute at Princeton University this summer. The goal of the institute was to help teachers bring cutting-edge molecular biology into their classroom by giving them hands-on laboratory experience. In addition to interacting with leading researchers at Princeton University, teachers had the opportunity to use high-tech procedures to perform DNA analysis, bacterial transformation and tests to detect genetically modified foods.

W.A. Perry Middle School Awarded Afterschool Program Grant

W.A. Perry Middle School is one of 40 schools statewide to be awarded a grant through the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers grant program. The federally funded grants, authorized under No Child Left Behind, are awarded through a competitive process. W.A. Perry will receive $150,000 annually for four years. The grant will enable the school to expand its STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) programs and activities for afterschool students.