DATE: 10/25/06

CONTACT: Amy McCune, (864) 656-6651; amccune@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

Hampton County 4-H’er awarded Ambassador of the Year

CLEMSON – A Hampton County 4-H’er won “4-H Ambassador of the Year” Oct. 21 at the S.C. State Fair in Columbia.

Aline K. Newton’s one page essay and presentation helped win her the title. Second place went to Heather Maule of Lee County and third place went to Ashely Shanae Reynolds, also of Lee County.

Newton attended 4-H training in Washington, DC in February to learn how to conduct public forums and leadership skills. She helped judge a communication contest at Edisto Research and Education Center and helped Clemson Extension Agent Barbara Brown with the Operation Military Kids Forum at Camp Bob Cooper and Fort Jackson.

In May, she was invited to attend a taping of a public voices forum entitled “Democracy’s Challenge” reclaiming the public’s voice which was held in Washington, DC. The program was aired nationally on PBS.

Maule has been volunteering with younger children for awhile and decided to start a Clover Bud 4-H Club. She is also putting together a planning committee to help plan a regional talent show. Her purpose is to get 4-H members excited about the activities 4-H has to offer.

Reynolds attended 4-H ambassador training in February at Pee Dee Research and Education Center and the 4-H Council Meeting at Sandhill Research and Education Center.

She has been involved in various 4-H classes, projects and camps and has entered and won awards. She taught a blanket workshop at her church and gave a presentation about 4-H to the mayor of Bishopville and the city council. She is a representative on the 4-H Teen Council for 2006-07.

The 4-H Ambassador program is a leadership and communication training for teens that was launched this year. The program’s purpose is to enhance and utilize their leadership, citizenship, and communication skills.

4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. The South Carolina 4-H Youth Development Program uses a learn-by-doing approach, the involvement of caring adults, the knowledge and resources of Clemson University and the land grant university system to empower youth to become healthy, productive and contributing members of society.

To learn more 4-H in your community, contact your county Extension office or go the state 4-H web site at www.clemson.edu/4h.

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