Blog Archives

Richland One Teacher Cadet Banquet

5/24/2018

BY ARTHUR L. PINCKNEY

Eau Claire High School was the host for the first Annual Richland One Teacher Cadet Banquet. All High Schools recognized one student as the “Outstanding Teacher Cadet” of the year. Dr. Stephanie Hart, Teacher Cadet Coordinator for the District also recognized the instructors. The High Schools represented were Columbia, Dreher, Eau Claire, A.C. Flora, C.A. Johnson, Keenan and Lower Richland.

2018 Ken Bower Scholarships Awarded

5/16/2018

BY TODD SCHOLL
[email protected]

The Ken Bower Teacher Cadet Scholarship, named in memory of Dr. Ken Bower, an architect of the original Teacher Cadet course and curriculum, is awarded each year to senior Teacher Cadets who intend to become a classroom teacher in one of South Carolina's many public schools.

“The recipients of the Ken Bower Teacher Cadet Scholarship are the quintessence of excellence, and we look forward to welcoming these aspiring future teachers to South Carolina's cadre of exemplary classroom teachers,” notes Marcella Wine-Snyder, Program Director for the Teacher Cadet Program. “For over thirty years now, South Carolina’s Teacher Cadet Program has sought to grow its own stellar teachers by establishing a pipeline of well-qualified potential educators comprised of the state's best and brightest students. For some time now, education policy analysts and demographers have alluded to impending teacher shortages at an alarming rate, and homegrown teacher recruitment strategies and efforts like the Teacher Cadet Program represent our best hope for averting a more substantial one.Without great teachers, our state's goal of providing high quality schools—for all children, in all neighborhoods--will never materialize.”

Teacher Cadet instructors receive notification of the call for applications early each calendar year and all senior Teacher Cadets are eligible to apply. Thanks to the generosity of silent auction "shoppers" at two CERRA conferences and other donors who support the Teacher Cadet program, 2018 recipients will receive a one-time award of $1,000. The award is mailed directly to the recipient's college before August 1 and is applied to his or her account. Awards are determined based on the merits of scholarship, teacher recommendations, and a written essay. The Ken Bower Teacher Cadet Scholarship is not "needs-based" and does not rely on the financial information of the Teacher Cadet’s family. Teaching Fellows may also be recipients of the Ken Bower Scholarship.

2018 Ken Bower Scholarship Recipients

Hannah Buford
Hannah is a senior at J.L. Mann High School and will be attending Clemson University as an early childhood education major in the fall. She is very involved at her school as a mentor with the special education students and a member of National Technical Honor Society, National Honor Society, FCA, and Key Club. Hannah’s passion is working with children, and she already works with kids in the after school program at an elementary school. By becoming a teacher, Hannah hopes that she can inspire children to love learning and make a lasting impact on their education.

Lydia Burgess
Lydia is a senior at Mauldin High School and will be attending Charleston Southern University where she plans to study English Education to become a high school English teacher. She is a Teacher Cadet as well as a Teaching Fellow. She wants to teach high school English because of her love for learning, teaching, reading, and writing. She is passionate about education and cannot wait to have a classroom of her own!

Sarah Gibson
Sarah Gibson is a senior at Powdersville High School. She serves as the treasurer for Student Government, the community coordinator for National Honors Society, and has participated in Beta club for many years. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She plans to continue her education in the fall at Clemson University. She will be an Early Childhood Education major with a minor in either Psychology or Special Education. After college, she plans to become a Kindergarten teacher.

Olivia James
Olivia James, an aspiring secondary level mathematics teacher, will attend Furman University this fall. She will graduate second in her class. Along with her academic success, she has been a part of many extracurricular activities including clubs such as National Honor Society, Beta Club, Students in Action, and Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica. She has exercised leadership skills as vice president in National Honor Society, percussion captain for several years in the Travelers Rest Band, and as a mentor for students both in school and at her church, Marietta First Baptist. She discovered that teaching is her passion through experience in tutoring, leading day camps, and the Teacher Cadet program.

Kaicee Thomasson
Kaicee will be graduating from York Comprehensive High School in York, SC. She is president of Mu Alpha Theta and an active member of the National Honor Society, English Honor Society, Teacher Cadet National Honor Society, and French Honor Society. She is also a member of the Varsity Cheer Team and volunteer with the school’s media specialist at after school events. She will be attending Clemson University in the Fall to major in either Secondary Education with a focus in math or pursue an Elementary Education degree. She has been preparing for this career by volunteering to tutor students within her school district and being a part of the Teacher Cadet Program.

Woodmont High TC receives ACE Award!

5/14/2018

Photo: ACE Awards
Paul Hyde, [email protected]Published 10:00 a.m. ET May 6, 2018 | Updated 9:49 a.m. ET May 8, 2018

Cameron Pate-Addie, 18, experienced some tough times growing up. His father died when he was very young. His mother passed away when Pate-Addie was a freshman in high school.

When he came to Woodmont High School, Pate-Addie was living with his brother and struggling academically.

"But you would never have known that he was going through difficulties," said his school counselor Ashley Emmons. "He has always been so polite and upbeat, one of the nicest people you'll ever meet." With the help of loved ones and the Woodmont teaching staff, Pate-Addie has persevered and is now a graduating senior, bound for Lander University and a future teaching career.

Pate-Addie is one of 70 students being honored this year with an ACE Award, which recognizes young, unsung heroes in Greenville County.

Pate-Addie, who maintains a part-time job along with his studies, participated in Woodmont's Teacher Cadet program, which provides internships at elementary and middle schools for high school students interested in teaching. The experience confirmed Pate-Addie's aspirations to become a teacher. "He's very passionate about social studies and history, so he wants to be a social studies teacher," Emmons said. His school counselors expect great things from Pate-Addie.

"We're excited to see what he does in the future," said Alli Brown, another Woodmont counselor. "I think he's going to be very beneficial to some kids out there." The ACE (Advocates for Character and Education) Awards, recognizing eighth- and 12th-graders who've overcome tremendous odds, are sponsored by Coaches 4 Character. "It's all about honoring unsung heroes in Greenville County," said Greg Blatt, executive director of Coaches 4 Character. "These are students who've gotten lost in the shuffle," he said. "Their lives have been about tackling adversity, meeting challenges, and overcoming tough times through determination and perseverance. They've done amazing things in their lives but they've been overlooked."

One boy and one girl from each of the county’s 35 middle and high schools will be presented an ACE Award.
This year's speaker will be Will Muschamp, head football coach at the University of South Carolina. The ACE Awards are a partnership of The Greenville News, WYFF 4, Greenville County Schools, iHeartMEDIA and the Greenville Health System. Winners will receive a medallion, commemorative program/photo and a gift package. Two students also will be able to donate $500 each from Coaches 4 Character to the students’ favorite charity.

Several 12th-grade students also will receive college scholarships.

<<Previous