May 17, 2016: Tuesday’s program is one we all look forward to as we recognize and celebrate our Rotary Service Above Self Scholars and the outstanding teachers in the Charleston County School District.
Our club recognized four exceptional students this year and were amazed by their many and varied volunteer accomplishments and service aspirations.
Elizabeth Harrell, from Ashley Hall school is an award winning swimmer who uses her talent to teach students in underserved populations to swim. Among many other volunteer activities in which she participates, Elizabeth helped to raise $184,000 to support cancer survivor programs. She is headed to Wofford to continue her education and volunteer work.
Logan Kraft attends First Baptist School, where she was recently awarded the West Point Leadership Award as well as a number of other leadership recognitions. Logan is also a swimmer and was a SC Independent High School State Champion. Logan has worked with the physically restricted and handicapped from age 8 to 60 teaching adaptive water sports. Logan is Clemson-bound in the fall.
Claire Lawrence attended Porter Gaud and has participated in nearly all 25 of the volunteer activities offered at the school. She is particularly interested in special needs children and served as a camp counselor and MUSC volunteer for children with Down’s Syndrome. Claire enjoys using equine therapy to help this population. She will be studying at the University of Kentucky.
Dondre Smith is a student at Burke High School and is in the Advanced Placement Academic Program. He has been a student leader and school ambassador throughout his school years and is particularly interested in letting everyone—students, citizens and government leaders—know about the wonderful programs, activities and school life at Burke and leading discussions about the school’s future. Dondre wants his life to have lots of music in it and plans to study audio engineering at Clemson.
These outstanding students each spoke of how important service is to them and how they plan to make helping others a keystone of their lives. We are very proud of this ear’s outstanding Rotary Service Above Self Scholars.
Each of us remembers special teachers in our lives who truly had an impact on our thinking, values, character and understanding. One can only imagine the number of students whose lives and futures have been positively affected by the finalists and winner of the Charleston County School District’s Teacher of the Year competition.
Dr. Valerie Harrison, Chief Academic Officer of the Charleston County School District, was our keynote speaker and clearly was pleased and proud to describe the accomplishments and skills of the five teachers who were nominated by their districts for the Teacher of the Year Award. These finalists were reviewed by a panel of experts who then named the winner and the runners-up.
Corday Borders is this year’s Teacher of the Year. The competition’s result was announced at Charleston Educators Night at the Riverdogs Stadium where Corday was honored and presented with a paid year-long lease of a new Mini to recognize her achievement. The Charleston Riverdogs, Channel 2 and Channel 4 are the sponsors of the recognition.
Corday is a fifth grade teacher at Belle Hall Elementary School and her mantra is that all students should fell safe and valued at school and in life despite their differences. In her classroom, Corday emphasizes the use of analytical skills to identify the problems, challenges and solutions inherent in literature, math and science. She believes that learning and using these skills helps develop self-discipline, ethics and personal worth. Corday will have a busy year talking to other educators and school officials about policies and programs that can help all of our students achieve the success they need and deserve.
Megan Orchard, a social studies teacher at Ft. Johnson Middle School was the Teacher of the Year Runner Up. Finalists were Angie Green, a guidance counselor at James Simons School; Karen Pickering, an English teacher at R.B. Stall High School; and Christine James, a medial specialist at Northwoods Middle School.
Congratulations to all of these winning students and educators!
— Cheryl Kaynard, Keyway Committee