Columbia, South Carolina – On Tuesday, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) along with Dominion Energy honored five high school students from various regions of South Carolina for their excellent contributions to the fourth annual Strong Men & Women in S.C. History writing contest. During the ceremony, State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver and Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam awarded each of the winners an Apple MacBook Air. The students were chosen from five different areas of the state: the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), the Lowcountry, the Midlands, the Pee Dee, and the Upstate, and their respective schools were gifted $1,000 each.
The competition motivates juniors and seniors in South Carolina high schools to engage in writing a 500-word essay each year on a varying theme. This year, the essay focused on Mary McLeod Bethune, a prominent educator and civil rights advocate from Mayesville, South Carolina. Bethune is celebrated for her pioneering contributions to education and literacy, which have significantly influenced many throughout the state. Bethune once said, “The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.”
Students were asked to write about an African American from South Carolina who has positively impacted their educational journey. “We are proud to celebrate these five young writers and the noteworthy South Carolinians who have made a lasting impact on their lives,” said Superintendent Weaver. “Thank you, Madison, Tristan, Karma, Chandler, and Morgan, for taking this initiative to recount your personal stories. With your impressive work ethic and inspiring writing talents, I’m confident your greatest chapters are yet to be penned!”
Kissam said, “As I read each essay authored by our honorees today, I developed an even greater appreciation for the contributions of these strong men and women who continue to inspire South Carolinians. I give thanks for these essayists who, through their own words, portray true strength as character that fuels action in service to others.”
The 2024 Strong Men & Women in S.C. History student writing contest winners:
- Madison Wright – Williston-Elko High School (CSRA)
- Tristan Moeller – Beaufort High School (Lowcountry)
- Karma Robinson – Spring Valley High School (Midlands)
- Chandler Brandon – J. Paul Truluck Magnet (Pee Dee)
- Morgan Henderson – Mauldin High School (Upstate)
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View the winning essays: https://scafricanamerican.com/2024-student-writing-contest-winners/
 along with Dominion Energy honored five high school students for their excellent contributions to the fourth annual Strong Men & Women in S.C.){kind=link}