New Winthrop award honors mentor teachers; York County residents mark accomplishments

Local residents are marking accomplishments.

Here are a few:

Fort Mill couple establishes statewide teacher mentor award

Fort Mill residents Jessie Williams and her husband, retired physician John Little, have created an endowed award honoring South Carolina’s mentor teachers, according to a Winthrop University release.

To establish the Jessie Williams Little “Leading the Way” Endowed Award, Little, Class of ’73, and her husband partnered with Winthrop’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and the James and Susan Rex Institute for Educational Renewal.

Jessie is a 2005 College of Education retiree.

Recipients will receive $2,500 in cash and join a group of mentor teachers working to improve education in the state, a release states.

“Our hope is that this award will encourage more talented, experienced teachers to serve as mentors and positive role models to aspiring and beginning educators,” Jessie said.

Nominees must be practicing classroom teachers with at least three years’ teaching experience. The award is open to public school teachers in South Carolina who serve as mentors. The College of Education will name finalists in February 2018.

To nominate a teacher, submit an online application by Sept. 29 to Lisa Johnson, associate dean in the College of Education at johnsonle@winthrop.edu.

The application can also be mailed to the Richard W. Riley College of Education at 106 Withers/W.T.S. Building, 701 Oakland Ave. Rock Hill, SC 29733.

Clover student named Books on Wheels’ top reader

Jolie Brooks of Bethany Elementary School earned the title of Top Reader after reading the most books from the Clover school district’s Books on Wheels program, said Bryan Dillon, spokesperson for the district.

Each summer, the district’s Books on Wheels program travels the district bringing books to students. The goal is to help students read outside of the classroom, according to the district.

Brooks read 30 books during the nine-week program. Her favorite was “Boys are Dogs” written by Leslie Margolis.

Clover’s next summer Books on Wheels tour kicks off on June 4, 2018.

Rock Hill student-athlete receives BMX scholarship

USA BMX has selected Anna Beynon of Rock Hill as a 2017 Bob Warnicke Scholarship winner, according to a statement.

Named for Bob Warnickle, a leader in the BMX community who died in November 1994 at 48 years old, the scholarship gives multiple awards to USA BMX and BMX Canada members.

The scholarship was created to help families pay for college or trade school, according to USA BMX. BMX members with a current license, track operators or officials who partcipate in USA BMX/BMX Canada racing events can apply.

This year, 70 awards went to recipients in 28 states and two Canadian provinces.

Lake Wylie student earns Eagle Scout

Eldon Dewey Graham, 18, of Lake Wylie has earned his Eagle Scout, said his father, Charles Graham.

Graham graduated from Clover High School and is attending Tri-County Technical College’s Bridge to Clemson University Program in Pendleton.

Eldon, a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 333 in Lake Wylie, built a “Buddy Bench” and a Free Little Library at Kinard Elementary School in Clover.

“He was very excited to achieve the accomplishment and worked hard to make it happen,” Charles Graham said.

Eldon’s brother, Charles Graham II, was also a member of Troop 333 and earned his Eagle Scout. Troop 333 is sponsored by River Hills Community Church.

Winthrop professor earns second national teaching award this year

On Aug. 11, Winthrop University mass communication professor Padmini Patwardhan accepted her second national teaching award.

Patwardhan was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award from the advertising division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, a nonprofit association of journalism and mass communication educators, media professionals and students.

Patwardhan accepted her award during the association’s annual conference in Chicago.

“We are very pleased to be able to reward and recognize the tireless passion and dedication you exhibit in the field of advertising education and the impact you make in so many student lives,” said Hal Vincent of Elon University, the division’s Teaching Standards and award selection committee chair.

This spring, Patwardham was also selected for the Charles H. Sandage Award for Teaching Excellence from the American Academy of Advertising, according to Winthrop.

This story was originally published August 28, 2017 at 12:06 PM with the headline "New Winthrop award honors mentor teachers; York County residents mark accomplishments."