Marion County People in the News

Scholarships and awards given to nursing students

Scholarship and awards were given at the May 28 graduation ceremony of the Marion County School of Practical Nursing. The event was in the C. D. Joyner Auditorium. The following are shown in the photograph with this story.

Shown are, from left, are the following recipients: Caleen Bennett (Perfect Attendance Phase I); April Johnson (Highest Scholastic Achievement Award, courtesy of the family of former graduate Jacquelyn Lewis Gaddy); Joni Butler (Most Improved Award, courtesy of the family of former graduate Jacquelyn Lewis Gaddy); Metshell Foxworth, Most Improved Award, (courtesy of the family of former graduate Jacquelyn Lewis Gaddy); Julie Campbell ( Dr. James B. Berry Scholarship); Pollyette Graves (Best Clinical Nurse Award, (courtesy of Dr. and Mrs. Donald Wu); Abby Brown, ( Dr. James B. Berry Scholarship); Carla Jackson (Mary Ella Bullock Cotton Nursing Scholarship); Tonya McElveen (Dr. James B. Berry Scholarship); Elizabeth Robinson (Alice Skinner Howell Scholarship); Jennifer Oliver (Pilot Club of Marion Scholarship). Absent from the picture is Thaletta Streeter (Perfect Attendance in Phase I) and Pamela Taylor (Perfect Attendance for Phase I and Phase II).

From right to left are benefactors of scholarships and awards: Sandy Duncan (daughter of Jacquelyn Lewis Gaddy); Alice Skinner Howell (The Alice Skinner Howell Scholarship); Frances Drew, President of the Pilot Club of Marion (Pilot Club Scholarship); Mrs. Ann Berry (wife, Dr. James B. Berry, Jr. Scholarship) and Chip Berry (son, Dr. James B. Berry, Jr. Scholarship). Absent from the benefactors: Betty Owens (daughter, Mary Ella Bullock Cotton Nursing Scholarship); Dr. and Mrs. Donald Wu (Best Clinical Nurse Award).

Shown is the Class of 2009.

New graduate celebrates

Creek Bridge graduate Shakoya Fling is shown sharing a hug with her pround grandpa, James Miller. Fling graduated May 29.

Buffkin takes award

At the Green Sea-Floyds Trojan Open Golf Tournament, Kenny Buffkin was presented a plaque in honor of his many years of loyal service and support of the GSF athletics and students. Shown are, from left, Buffkin, GSF Athletic Booster Club President Wayne Fox, and Voice of the Trojans Gene Martin.

McMillan graduates from Coastal Carolina

Martha Brittney McMillan graduated from Coastal Carolina University, Summa cum laude, May 9. She was named to the Presidents list for eight straight semesters and selected by the faculty as the most outstanding student in elementary education wShe has been accepted and will be attending the University of South Carolina Speech and Language Pathology graduate program. McMillian is the daughter of George and Cindy McMillan of Mullins and the granddaughter of Martha Gibson McMillan, also of Mullins, and Patsy Tindal Glaze of Marion.

JMS has 100 percent pass rate for students in JMS Algebra 1

Chrystal Kelly's Algebra I class at Johnakin Middle School recently took its End-of-Course Algebra 1 Test.
Ten of the 24 students had a perfect score of 100. Five students scored an A including one 95, three grades of 97 and one had a grade of 99. Five students scored a B. Students in the class are Brandon Alford, Sam Barrentine, Joey Bilton, Michala Blue, Rasheka Brantley, Alexis Brown, Antuanna Bryant, Brenna Bullard, Laura Campbell, Stacey Coleman, Ashley Cross, Leland Daniels, JaQuan Davis, Meagan Dunham, Sarah Edwards, Ashleigh Evans, Chiquira Gamble, Jakarri Godbolt, Morgan Honaker, Darryl Kelly, Ariane Legette, Kellie Marion, Reaves Reynolds and Tillman Sanders. This is the first grade that will go on the students' high school transcript.

Cadet achieves academic excellance

William Logan Rogers IV of Mullins, a pre-business major and son of Mr. and Mrs. William Logan Rogers III, was honored by officials at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, for outstanding academic achievement during the spring semester academic year.

Students win writing awards

Several Johnkin Middle School students have been recognized for their participation in the State Superintendent’s Awards Program.
The purpose of that awards program is to support the teaching of the South Carolina Academic Standards and to provide fifth and eighth grade students an opportunity to express themselves through the writing process. Participating districts implement the writing program from December 2008 to March 2009. A class winner is chosen from each English Language Arts class. An overall school or district winner is selected. District winners were highlighted at a statewide recognition ceremony in May in Columbia. Class Winners for JMS are Kenya Avant, Kevin Rowel and Katrina Rowell. Additionally, representing Marion School District 7, Jakaysia Dozier of Brittons Neck Elementary School was honored in the Superintendent’s Writing Award program.

Gibson honored on 95th

Connie Gibson was honored on her 95th birthday, on May 17 by the members of Centenary Baptist Church. Gibson, a retired school teacher, has been a member of the church for more than 70 years. She has been involved in many areas of service to the church and was presented a crystal vase and a scrap book containing memories. Those present shared memories and words of appreciation. Following the service, a fellowship meal was enjoyed.
Shown are Connie Gibson, left, and Michael Gibson, chairman of the deacons.

Jones makes Dean’s List, receives a bachelor’s degree

Charleston Southern University congratulates Casey Jones of Marion for making the Dean’s List for the spring semester 2009. Jones received a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education at the Charleston Southern University commencement ceremony on May 9 at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Jordan makes Dean’s List

Charleston Southern University has announced that Rebecca Jordan of Marion made the Dean’s List for the spring semester 2009.

Marion County students make FMU honors lists

Officials at Francis Marion University have named 306 full-time students and 14 part-time students to the President’s List, and 461 full-time students and 12 part-time students to the Dean’s List for the 2009 fall semester. Of those students listed on the President’s List, 166 earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the semester, the highest possible ratio a student can receive.
Students named to the President’s List must have earned a 3.75 or higher GPA for the semester. Dean’s List students earned a GPA for the semester between 3.25 and 3.749. Full-time students on the President’s List (* denotes 4.0 GPA) from Marion County include: *Dara W. Brown, Mullins, Nursing; Kristin B. Cook, Nichols, Management; Lori B. Farrow, Marion, Nursing; *Heather D. Grant, Mullins, Elementary Education; *Curtis O. Jacobs, Mullins, Accounting; Charles W. Jones, Marion, Finance; *Jimmi L. Jones, Mullins, Nursing; Shiquata A. Lewis, Mullins, Early Childhood Education; Douglas W. McColl, Mullins, History; *Heather E. Patterson, Nichols, Early Childhood Education; Eunice I. Rabon, Marion, Nursing; Caroline E. Sellars, Mullins, Visual Arts/Graphic Design Specialty; Heather R. Soles, Mullins, Early Childhood Education; *Ross D. Wise, Marion, Nursing.
Part-time students on the Dean’s List includesTrietta M. Varner, Marion, Early Childhood Education; and Alexander Whittington, Marion, Biology.
Full-time students on the school's Dean’s List from Marion County includes: Leeann S. Brown, Marion, English; Robert R. Campbell, Marion, Accounting; Melanie B. Cook, Nichols, Nursing; Sherita M. Crawford, Marion, Nursing; Annette Edwards, Marion, RN-BSN; Jimmy F. Ford II, Mullins, Visual Arts/Graphic Design Specialty; Symon M. Gibson, Marion, Art Education; Deborah A. Hayes, Marion, Nursing; Jarrott M. Hooks, Marion, Undecided; Daniel A. James, Marion, English-Liberal Arts; Kumar Kuljit, Mullins, Computer Science; Stephen C. Lane, Marion, Computer Science; William P. Martinez, Nichols, Modern Language/Spanish; Jenifer L. Miller, Mullins, Biology/Pre-Nursing; Monica D. Moody, Mullins, Biology; Megan D. Sheffield, Nichols, Political Science; Steven A. Smith II, Mullins, Political Science; Wellons M. Williams, Marion, Nursing.

Winthrop University announces its graduates, honors students

Several Marion County residents have graduated from and achieved honors at Winthrop University. According to a press release posted on the University's Web site, this spring's graduates includeValencia Domonick Flemming, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Mullins; Towanda Letrice Gregg, Bachelor of Arts, Art, Marion; Katherine Muriel Lloyd, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art, Mullins, Summa Cum Laude; and Melissa Kelly Richardson, Bachelor of Arts, Dance, Marion, Magna Cum Laude.
To be named to the President’s list, students must have earned a 4.0 grade point ratio during the semester. Katherine Muriel Lloyd of Mullins has been named to the President's List.

Marion youths heading to New York for competition

Seven Marion County high school students will be heading to New York City to compete in the NAACP National ACT-SO Scholarship Competition during the week of July 8-12. They were the local ACT-SO competition winners in April and will represent Marion County and the state of South Carolina competing with students from other states across the country. The categories and contestants are: dance, Carmen Ramos; drama, Victory Williams; drawing, Samira Owens; painting, Ollivia Francois-Smith; photography, Wesley Davis; Poetry, Allyson Page; and vocal contemporary, Anisa Gilchrist.
Benisha Julious and Jordan Adams will accompany the group as youth observers. Last year, Marion County had a bronze medal winner in photography from Marion High School, Elmore Davis. The students have been preparing for the competition and fundraising. The Tri-County Male Choir had a benefit program in April and on June 19, 2009 the ACT-SO group will host a Fashion and Variety Show at St. Paul Baptist Church in Mullins under the direction of Shieka Hill. For information, call Connie Black 464-2110, ACT-SO chairperson.

Marion man is a semifinalist in online contest

Chosen from nearly 2,000 applicants from across the United States, according to a press release, Wade Gasque from Marion has been selected as one of 10 semifinalists in the Netflix FIND Your Voice film competition. The competition is a program which will award one aspiring filmmaker the means, guidance and resources to make a full-length narrative film. Judged by a group of accomplished filmmakers, including actor/director Josh Brolin, the winning film will premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2010, along with production resources needed to make feature film, a $150,000 production grant funded by Netflix and distribution online through the Netflix Web Site.
Earlier this year, applications from more than 2000 aspiring filmmakers were reviewed. From those submissions, FIND identified 10 semifinalists. Gasque's short "Half Truth" can be viewed online at http://www.netflixfindyourvoice.com/. Through a voting process on the competition’s Web Site, five films with the highest votes will be selected to go to the next round of the competition. Voting is open to the public and will take place from June 5 through July 5.
According to the press release, Gasque has crafted a career of honest, character-driven and absurdly inspired films and plays. Drawing from his "colorful past in small town South Carolina and New York’s East Village," his stories bring the outsider front and center. He was most recently chosen for Film Independent’s 2008 Screenwriters Lab and 2009 Directors Lab.

Boards Association honors Blum

Ricky Blum has been named a Champion of Public Education by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA)for his contributions in Marion School District 1. Shown are Blum, left, and John Hughes, SCSBA Secretary. The award is presented to community residents, organizations or local businesses or industries whose support of and contributions to public education have significantly benefited the entire school district or public schools statewide.“Mr. Blum’s dedication is greatly appreciated and it was an honor to recognize him for the dedication he has shown to the district over the years and we look forward to his continued support,” MSDi Board Chairman James Smith said.

Stewart graduates from Presbyterian College

Erin Taylor Stewart graduated May 9 from Presbyterian College cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and minor in chemistry. Stewart, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, was a member of the Blue Hose softball team for four years, and PC tennis team for one year.
She was distinguished as a member of the Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll and was also chosen NCAA Big South Academic All-Conference. Stewart will begin the physician assistant program at The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston in May. She is the daughter of Keith and Brenda Stewart of Marion.

Student chosen to travel to attend conference

Eva Blythe Padgett, a rising senior at Chapin High School formerly of Marion, has been selected to represent South Carolina as a National Youth Correspondent to the 2009 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University from July 12–17. Padgett joins a group of students from all over the country, chosen based on academic accomplishments and a demonstrated interest and excellence in journalism and media studies.
The week, long program will encourage and inspire young leaders from across the country who desire a unique experience focused on successful careers in the field of journalism. Padgett is the daughter of Johnny and Kathy Padgett of Chapin and the granddaughter of Grace and Cecil Rogers of Marion.