Author: Andy Brack

May 8, 2018:  This past Tuesday, our club recognized the Rotary Service Above Self Scholars, Teacher of the Year and Honor Roll Teachers for Charleston County School District. Each Scholar was introduced by one of their teachers who provided some highlights on each student’s dedication to service above self.

Our Service Above Self Scholars are:

AAMANI HAMILTON:  From Burke High School who is a volunteer at SMART Camp as well as helping with the Back to School drive each year.

ANDREW MURPHY:  From First Baptist High School who is a volunteer with Star Gospel Mission, helping the homeless and coordinating the breakfast there for the last 2 years.

WHITNEY MARSHALL:  From Ashley Hall who has been doing charity walks for MS since she was 13, having done 8 events and over 400 miles so far. In 2014 she was the youngest and only person without MS to receive the Most inspirational Walker Award. Continue reading “5/8: Teacher of the year and Rotary scholars”

May 1, 2018 – What a pleasure to hear from Hayne Hipp, a true trailblazer in our state, seeking to improve the lives of all South Carolinians.  He and his wife Anna Kate founded the Liberty Fellowship in 2004, a statewide initiative working to empower the state’s young leaders to realize their full potential.

The Liberty Fellowship is run in partnership with Wofford College and The Aspen Institute.  Each year 20 Fellows are selected and make a commitment to improving our state.  Nominees must be between the ages of 30 and 45, live in South Carolina, be a leader with a history of community engagement, be willing to make a serious time commitment, have the potential to have an impact at the state level, and be successful in their field.  The selection process is rigorous and seeks diversity of thought and experience.

Continue reading “5/1: Hayne Hipp and Louanne Runge: Liberty Fellowship”

April 24, 2018 – Our meeting on April 24^th was a presentation by Bill Phillips, CEO, and Joe Daniels of the National Medal of Honor Museum currently being planned adjacent to the USS Yorktown.

Mr. Phillips started the presentation by describing Kyle Carpenter, a young Army recruit who was injured in Afghanistan by jumping on a grenade to save his fellow platoon members.  His story is the type of story the museum will be teaching.  It will honor the youth who sacrificed for our freedom.

Mr. Phillips also gave a brief history of the medal itself.  In 1861 President Abraham Lincoln thought we needed a way to honor fallen soldiers.  He created an award and in 1918 Congress approved a “Congressional Medal of Honor”.  Congress felt the honor required more vigorous review of candidates including the requirement that their bravery required 3 witnesses and review by an “all military panel” consisting of representation by all military branches.  To date there have been 3,517 honorees broken out by branch as follows:

Continue reading “4/24: National Medal of Honor Museum”

April 17, 2018 – Our presentation this week came from a number of young students at RB Stall High School. Michael Breedlove, who is the Business and Marketing Instructor for Stall High School, brought with him, Adrian Pinckney, Emily Barrios and Jamaria Purdie who bravely took the microphone to explain what their organization does to prepare students for the “real world.” DECA started as the Distributive Education Clubs of America.

The focus is to give student members the skills needed to succeed at business. Coach Breedlove’s team has worked on several projects to hone their business and marketing skills, but perhaps the most effective has been a presentation they have developed on smart use of smart devices.

Their presentation gives students and members of the general public as well tips on how to use social media in ways that avoid unintended hurtful consequences.

Continue reading “4/17: Michael Breedlove and DECA Students: What is DECA?”