Leadership S.C. Class of 2011 to present check to Marlboro County school

Published: June 2, 2011

Leadership South Carolina image by: Leadership South Carolina

COLUMBIA — The Leadership South Carolina Class of 2011 will present a check Friday in Marlboro County to mark the end of the class project that focused on public education through public awareness and outreach.

The class chose to adopt a South Carolina Priority School, do improvements, raise funds and support the S.C. Chamber of Commerce’s SCMinds@Work initiative.

The class will present a check for $10,000 at 10 a.m. at Blenheim Elementary Middle School, 2501 Highway 38 South in Blenheim. The largest contributor to the project was the Wal-Mart Foundation with a $5,000 contribution. 

Invited guests include the Marlboro County Legislative Delegation; S.C. Superintendent of Education Mick Zais; representatives from the Marlboro School District; and project contributors Wal-Mart, Duke Energy, Bank of America, HopeHealth and BlueCross/Blue Shield, among others.

Leadership South Carolina, which is supported by Clemson University’s Ins titute for Economic and Community Development, was established in 1979 to provide gifted and highly motivated South Carolinians an opportunity to advance their leadership skills while broadening their understanding of issues facing the state.

Each year, individuals are selected for the nine-month program through a competitive process. Selection is based on applicants' demonstrated abilities as leaders and on their records of service in leadership capacities.

The 48-member Class of 2011 came from the public and private sectors and nonprofits across the state. They included the senior vice president of Bank of America, a chief executive of a statewide hospice and S.C. Teacher of the Year Kelly Nalley from Pelzer.

The program incorporates statewide experts in a variety of fields to explore the issues facing South Carolina including quality of life, economic development, environment, education and health issues. 

During the more than 120 hours of programming, the class interacted with business executives, community and government leaders and others who encouraged them to pursue positive change in South Carolina.

Leadership South Carolina executive director Helen Munnerlyn said the class set a high bar for its project.

“With the help of wonderful corporate sponsors, and through hard work and smart business acumen, the class helped two worthy causes,” she said. 

Graduates of the Class of 2011

Edoe Agbodjan, S.C. State University
Bonnie Loomis, Duke Energy
Steven C. Batson, S.C. Emergency Management Division
Ed Madden, University of South Carolina
Janelle Beamer, Southern Wesleyan University
Jay Marett, Greenville County Emergency Management
Joey Bowers, U.S. District Court
Machell Mims, Savannah River Remediation LLC
Wil Brasington, Clemson University
Kelly Nalley, S.C. Teacher of the Year
Alex Campbell, Rodgers Builders Inc.
Debbie Nelson, DNA Creative Communications
Missy Caughman, city of Columbia
Mike Panasko, Innovate Anderson
Brandon Coker, Fluor Corp.
Newt Pressley, Spartanburg Water
Brian Collie, Manaker and Associates LLC
Terry Provost, Department of Energy, Savannah River Site
Cindy Cooper, Blue Cross Blue Shield of S.C.
Rebecca Rhodes, city of Manning
Craig Dellinger, The Citadel Foundation
Robin D. Sally, Children’s Defense Fund
Melissa Albergotti Drescher, Bank of America
Rob Smith, Moore and Van Allen PLLC
Chris Eaker, S.C. Army National Guard
Dyke Spencer, Powdersville Water District
Jim Evers, AT&T
Gregg Stapleton, Tri-County Technical College
Andrew Folks, S.C. Power Team
Raymond Strawbridge, S.C. Army National Guard
Keisha Gray, Herald-Journal Newspaper
Dawn-Michele Teachey, Hospice Care of S.C.
Darren C. Foy, Keenan and Suggs Insurance
Stephen Varnell, Fluor Corp.
Ben Green, Cyberwoven
Wendy Walls, Technical College of the Lowcountry
Steve Hall, FGP International
Babs Warner, Santee Cooper
Coby C. Hennecy, ETV Endowment of S.C.
Erin Watson, Rawle Murdy Associates
Anthony Holloman, S.C. State University
Louis Whitesides, S.C. State University
Carl Humphries, HopeHealth Inc.
Marcella Wine-Snyder, CERRA
Will Johnson, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A.
Mike Wilson, Duke Energy Carolinas LLC
Karyn Lemon, McAbee, Talbert, Halliday and Co.
Natalie McKelvey Zeigler, city of Hartsville

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