DILLON -- Friday was a day of celebration at South Carolina's oldest school, J.V. Martin Junior High in Dillon. The century-old school received federal loans and grants to get a new facility built. Three people who helped the school get those grants are being specially recognized at the celebration meeting.
State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex is presenting Palmetto Ambassador of Education awards to Ty’Sheoma Bethea, the former J.V.
Martin student whose letter to President Barack Obama brought national attention to her school; Richard Schafer, the longtime chairman of the Dillon County Board of Education who had a key role in passing a 2007 bond referendum to fund the new school; and Darryl Rosser, the CEO of Chicago-based Sagus International who is spearheading private-sector assistance for the school.
Last year Rex made J.V. Martin the centerpiece of a two-day conference in Columbia involving educators, architects, engineers, and technology and health care experts from South Carolina and across the nation.
Participants at that symposium discussed how to build a school that meets the education, social and health needs of students and their parents. As a community center in a high-poverty area, such a school could include space for doctors, day care and adult classes.
Friday’s celebration in Dillon will be the second set of Palmetto Ambassador awards. The first awards were presented two years ago to Grammy-winning rockers Hootie & the Blowfish, who established a foundation to benefit children through education improvement, reform and advocacy. The band supports projects in many communities across the Palmetto State, including Charleston, Allendale, Florence, Jasper and Lee counties.
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