Foundation’s 2019 Celebration honored the top seniors’ academics in Lexington County School District One high schools
February 26, 2019: The Lexington One Educational Foundation held a special, annual banquet to honor 175 seniors who academically ranked in the top 10% of their senior classes on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at the annual Celebration of Excellence in Education. More than 600 individuals attended this year’s event at Brookland Banquet and Conference Center that included the honored students, parents, Lexington District One staff and generous sponsors. The PHS Honors Chamber Orchestra performed for the honored guests, as well as the PHS Steel Drum Band. The event also included an art gallery featuring artwork from high school students in the district.
The Celebration’s guest speaker was Dr. Rhett Brown, who is an alumnus of Pelion High School and is thepresident of Wingate University. He gave a pointed speech that encouraged the students to say “yes” to opportunities and to not be afraid of failure, as this often leads to learning and future success.
Since PHS was the event’s host high school, the Master of Ceremonies was PHS Director of Bands Mr. Otto Hage.The Reverend Matthew Miller of The Well Church in Pelion, SC, gave the invocation and is also a PHS alumnus.
Educational Foundation chair Simeon Bryant inducted students from each of the Lexington School District One High Schools – Gilbert, Lexington, Pelion, River Bluff and White Knoll – into the Old English Society. This honored is only bestowed upon students who graduate in the top 10% academically of their senior class.
The Foundation leaders were extremely grateful to the many sponsors of this year’s event, which included Duff& Childs, LLC, attorneys and counselors at law; Jumper Carter Sease Architects; and an Anonymous friend aslead Diamond level sponsors. The event sponsors made it possible for the Foundation to invite the honoredstudents and two guests at no cost to the family. Platinum level sponsors were Blue Cross Blue Shield of SouthCarolina; Code to the Future; E3/Colonial Life; Gregory Electric; Halligan Mahoney & Williams; HG Reynolds Co.,Inc.; Lexington Medical Center; Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative; Sonya Arnold Motes of Merrill Lynch;Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union; SEFA; South State Bank; Town of Lexington, SC; and Thomas “Tom”Trinkner, DDS. There were also 29 Gold Level Sponsors, 28 Silver Level Sponsors and 4 College Sponsors thatwere generous donors to the Celebration this year.
Contact Foundation staff for more information about the 2019 Celebration of Excellence in Education.
