South Carolina is home to world renowned businesses and industries. These businesses have brought with them tens of thousands of high paying, high skilled job opportunities. The South Carolina Department of Education and our school districts are committed to ensuring that every student and parent has the information and resources needed to be prepared for the jobs and careers in our state and nation. Our excellent career and technology programs and centers located across the state are paving the way for students to be successful after graduation.
State Superintendent of Education Molly M. Spearman spoke recently during the annual South Carolina Education and Business Summit. With over 1400 in attendance, the Education and Business Summit (EBS) is the state’s largest annual professional development event connecting Career and Technology representatives from K-12, post-secondary, and business partnerships.
This year’s summit was entitled “Connecting Education to Careers: Be the Bridge.” With four days of keynote presentations and award celebrations, 235 concurrent sessions addressing best practices in Career and Technology Education, and the opportunity to earn recertification credits onsite, the EBS illustrated how South Carolina strives to “Be the Bridge.”
The 2016 EBS Summit honored 19 students from across South Carolina for their hard work and dedication to Career and Technology Education. These students truly exemplify what it means to be College and Career ready and we look forward to their future success in our state and country.
2016 I AM CATE Award – This award is presented to four students, one from each major region in South Carolina, who graduated as CTE completers and who have made significant contributions as CTE students or in a field of study or career related to CTE.
- District I - Carson Brewer, Fred P. Hamilton Career Center
- District II - Ashley Cash Belue, Swofford Career Center
- District III - Danielle N. Atkinson, McBee High School
- District IV - Dalexis Aldridge, Summerville High School
CATE Service Learning Award – This award is presented to four Career and Technical Student Organizations, or programs for service-learning contributions to the community over the past school year.
- District I - Mari Elizabeth Nelson, G. Frank Russell Technology Center – Carpentry
- District II - Swofford Carpentry & Electricity Students, Led the way in rebuilding the home of their much beloved custodian, Brenda Hurst, which devastated by a fire.
- District III - Logan Mitchel Owens, Carvers Bay High School - Building Construction
- District IV - Isaiah Daniel Schmidt, Summerville High School, Film and Broadcast Journalism
The SC Work-Based Learning Student of the Year Award is given to a student who exemplifies the application of academic learning to real life, real work, and real world situations within the business/industry environment.
- Patrick Rowe, Dillon County Technology Center
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award recognizes students who demonstrate "the entrepreneurial spirit." This student has displayed initiative and drive towards innovation. The nomination committee looks for students who have acted upon their desire to own their own businesses. The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award acknowledges a student's actions to date and encourages them to move forward in pursuit of their entrepreneurial dreams.
- Nino Chambers, Brookland Cayce High School
The ACT South Carolina Exemplary Student Award
- Jerrell Rolack, Woodland High School
2016 South Carolina Technology Champions
This select group of students were identified by the South Carolina Department of Education Office of Career and Technology and the state’s Regional Career Specialists as the top career and technology education student in each of the 12 Regional areas. These award-winning youth are designated as “Technology Champions,” and are being honored as South Carolina’s most exemplary career and technology education students.
Catawba Region
- Daniel Alexander Molina, Northwestern High School
Greenville Region
- Anieke Papenhuyzen, Mauldin High School
Low Country Region
- Ashlyn Raye Houston, Beaufort High School
Lower Savannah Region
- Alexandra B. Cave, Edisto High School
Midlands Region
- Jasrial Demalia Thompson, Blythewood High School
PeeDee Region
- Thomasena Tenia Thomas, South Florence High School
Pendleton Region
- Morghen Arianna Davis, West Oak High School
Santee - Lynches Region
- John Luther, Lee Central High School
Trident Region
- Stephen Maddy, West Ashley High School
Upper Savannah Region
- Ashton Larry Coker, Emerald High School
Upstate Region
- Lillian Aileen Turnage, Boiling Springs High School
Waccamaw Region
- Heaven Hinkle, Conway High School
