Upward Bound Students Recognized for Academic Achievements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/25/2007
CONTACT: BELINDA BROWNLEE, 646-1602
(By Lisa Garrett)
PENDLETON --- Look beyond where you are today and strive for excellence, Donald Peppers, founder of Camp Proverbs in Pendleton, told a group of students and parents in his remarks at Tri-County Technical College's 27th annual Upward Bound Awards Banquet.
Mr. Peppers, a special education teacher and coach at Riverside Middle School, was the keynote speaker at the annual awards banquet where high school students were recognized for their academic achievements.
“Life is a journey filled with peaks and valleys along the way,” he said. “I encourage you to remain optimistic and to further your goals. Have standards and always strive to be better,” said Peppers, a 1996 graduate of Pendleton High School and alumnus of the Arts Institute of Atlanta. Peppers also runs Camp Proverbs, a non-profit organization and mentoring program for teenage boys.
“Don’t be content. Look beyond where you are. Overcome obstacles, because true success is based on what you overcome. I encourage you to become leaders to help move us beyond where we are.”
Upward Bound is designed to help high school students bridge the gap between secondary school and college and to provide them with financial and academic resources to prepare for postsecondary education. The Upward Bound project, sponsored by Tri-County, serves 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders from Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties and provides high school students with services year-round through its academic and summer bridge components.
Most of this year’s Upward Bound graduating seniors had been in the program
for four years, beginning in the ninth grade. This group’s dedication translates into 32 Saturdays filled with academic instruction in core curriculum classes and more academics, recreational and cultural activities during a six-week summer component at Clemson University.
At the banquet, students received plaques for outstanding achievement and most improvement in English, math, reading, science and Spanish.
Listing of awards given at banquet:
Outstanding Academic Achiever Bridge Component Awards (students taking University Transfer classes):
-- Jasmin Carithers, of Piedmont, a 2007 honor graduate of Palmetto High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, listed on the A/B Honor
Roll, and received the Spanish National Honor Society Award. She will be attending Greenville Technical College in the fall.
--Devon Blanding, of Williamston, a 2007 graduate of Palmetto High School. He is listed on the A/B Honor Roll and received the Best Senior Award. He will be attending Piedmont Technical College in the fall.
-- Melissa Davis, of Anderson, a 2007 graduate of Crescent High School. She was listed on the A/B Honor Roll. She will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.
-- Klarissa Hunt, of Williamston, a 2007 graduate of Palmetto High School. A licensed cosmetologist, she received the Student Council Award, National Honor Society Award for Cosmetology, Most Excellent Senior Award for Cosmetology and served as Student Body President for Cosmetology. In addition, she received a Work Keys Gold Certificate for the highest level and was on the A/B Honor Roll. She will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.
-- Nastasha Earle, of Seneca, a 2007 graduate of Seneca High School, received scholarships from the National Society of Black Engineers, the Inflation Club and the AKA. She wore the blue cord to represent the Tri-M Music Honor Society, pink cord for Future Educators of America, and the platinum seal cord. She was named Best Service Learning student. She will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.
-- Therressa Henderson, of Anderson, a 2007 graduate of Belton-Honea Path High School, served as Upward Bound’s SGA vice president and is a licensed cosmetologist. She will be attending Claflin University in the fall.
-- Brandy Moss, of Westminster, a 2007 graduate of West-Oak High School, received the LIFE scholarship, Birdie Poole Holland scholarship, Epsilon Tau Omega Scholarship, and the Eastern Star scholarship. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the Beta Club and a high honor graduate. She was a National Scholar athlete, and an SCHSL Scholar Athlete. She also received the Upward Bound Outstanding Leadership award at the banquet. She will be attending Clemson University in the fall.
-- Katrista Murray, of Liberty, a 2007 graduate of Liberty High School, received a Who’s Who Among American Teens scholarship, and the LIFE scholarship. She will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.
-- Somer Page, of Starr, a 2007 graduate of Crescent High School, was an honor graduate and on the A/B Honor Roll. She will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.
-- Valarie Williams, of Anderson, a 2007 graduate of Pendleton High School, will be attending Greenville Technical College in the fall.
Most Improved Awards:
Most Improved in English Award – Luquita Edwards, of Anderson
Most Improved in Mathematics Award—Sean Johnson, of Anderson
Most Improved in Science Award – Sean Johnson, of Anderson
Most Improved in Spanish Award— Lauren Norris, of Anderson
Most Improved in Reading – Kenya Blackwell, of Anderson
Most Outstanding Awards:
Most Outstanding Achievement in English – Sterling Ward, of Anderson
Most Outstanding Achievement in Math – Sasha Martin, of Anderson
Most Outstanding Achievement in Science – Sasha Martin, of Anderson
Most Outstanding Achievement in Spanish – Shanice Mayes, of Seneca
Most Outstanding Achievement in Reading – Lauren Norris, of Anderson
Honor Roll Awards
Kiana Green, of Starr; Samantha Hunter, of Easley; Sean Johnson, of Anderson; Jessica Martin, of Anderson; Sasha Martin, of Anderson; Ajalek Robinson, of Seneca; Santaria Rogers, of Anderson; and Jasmine Williams, of Seneca.
SGA- Student Government Association of Upward Bound
Brandy Moss, of Westminster, president
Therressa Henderson, of Anderson, vice president
Sasha Martin, of Anderson, secretary
Jessica Martin, of Anderson, treasurer |
Oconee