By Betsy Finklea
College and Military Decision Day was held at Dillon High School this morning (Friday, May 16th) at the Dillon District Four Auditorium.
The class earned an impressive $7.8 million in scholarships, grants, and offers, which is a new record for Dillon High School
Principal Timothy Gibbs said this was an “awesome moment” for these students who will decide their next step in life. he spoke of their hard work and dedication and recognized the parents for all they have done to bring these students to this moment.
Antoinette Langley, School Counselor, gave the purpose for the occasion. She said that Decision Day was a celebratory event where high school seniors announce their post-graduation plans.
Then School Counselor Kim Jackson announced the names of the students and where they were headed.
They were as follows:
ARMY: Dustyn Garcia and Ja’Keria Manning
ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: Ethan Caulder, Jayden Dudley, and Jordan Swindler
BENEDICT COLLEGE: Ty’Kia Bruce and Dainess Sadok
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY: Kaylen Brumbles (Scholarships and Offers: $40,000) and Kathryn Hewitt
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY: Nataki Davis McGuire (Full Ride), Selah Grice (Full Ride: $1.2 million in scholarships and offers), Issa Nimubona, JaRon Ford, and Madison Rowell
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: Qu’Nasia McCollum and Jeremy White (Scholarships and offers: $390,580)
COLUMBIA COLLEGE: Zadaiya Moody (Scholarships and offers: $29,500)
FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY: A’Kalia Wright (Scholarships and offers: $148,000)
FLORENCE-DARLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE: Ethan Caulder Makayla Huggins, Austin Miles, and Alexander Norris
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY: Jamiya Alford, Ava Campbell, Cameron Crawford (Scholarship: $2,336) , Larry Simms (Scholarship Grants: $41,580), and Innocent Tyson
HORRY-GEORGETOWN TECHNICAL COLLEGE: Colton Locklear and Azaiyah Swinney (Scholarships and offers: $12,000)
LINCOLN TECH: Deterrion Scott (Scholarships and offers: $4,000) and Daiveon Swindler (Scholarships and offers: $3,000)
MORRIS COLLEGE: Sentell Taylor
NEWBERRY COLLEGE: Breanna McInnis (Scholarships and offers: $48,695)
NORTHEASTERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE: Mi’yonna McColl
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE: Cierra Grice ($80,000 Softball Athletics Scholarship)
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY: Mariah Campbell, Tre’Ontae Davis, Keria Ham, Sha’Wanda Jacobs, Da’Kyiah Palmer, Ca’NAurey Reid, and Keiara Rush
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY—WEST POINT: Ryan Carter (First time in the history of Dillon High School that a student has been accepted at West Point. He is the class valedictorian.)
UNIVERSITY OF NC at PEMBROKE: Gift Neitende (Scholarships and offers: $590, 892) and Summer Rowell
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA-COLUMBIA: Aziya Bethea (Awards Package: $29,580) , James Henderson, Gabriel Lloyd (Grants and offers: $202,000), and Gloria McLellan ($1.2 million in scholarships and offers; She is also Class Salutatorian.)
WINGATE UNIVERSITY: Valeria Aranda (Scholarships and Offers: $154,500)
WINTHROP UNIVERSITY: Natalia Bethea (Scholarships and offers: $152,900), Raven Eason (Grants and Scholarships: $17,600), and Kiasia McLeod (Grants and Scholarships: $71,692)
Antoinette Langley announced the scholarships and awards. They were as follows:
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
ANCHOR CLUB: $1,000 scholarship to Gift Neitende
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB: $500 to A’Kailia Wright
WONDER LODGE SCHOLARSHIP: $500 to James Henderson
ELLA MAE ROSE SCHOLARSHIP: $500 each to Jamiya Alford, Aziya Bethea, Sha’wanda Jacobs, Kiasia McLeod, and A’Kailia Wright
GRAVES FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP: $500 to A’Kalia Wright
FLORENCE CHAPTER OF PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INC.: $500 to Gloria McLellan
THE MEETING STREET SCHOLARSHIP: $10,000 each to Aziya Bethea, Natalia Bethea, Semaj Davis, Raven Eason, Jaron Ford, Selah Grice, Cierra Grice, James Henderson, Nimubona Issa, Gabriel Lloyd, Qu’Nasia McCollum, Nataki McGuire, Breanna McInnis, Gloria McLellan, Kiasia McLeod, Gift Neitende, Madison Rowell, Azaiyah Swinney, and Jeremy White
MAGNOLIA THOMPSON WILLIAMS SCHOLARSHIP: $1,000 each to Aziya Bethea and A’Kalia Wright
HARNETHEA B. MANNING SCHOLARSHIP: $1,500 to A’Kalia Wright
RDK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: $1,000 to Sha’wanda Jacobs
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AWARD: Gloria McLellan
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT AWARD: Ryan Carter
DHS SPIRIT OF THE WILDCAT AWARD: Gift Nientende (Presented by Principal Timothy Gibbs)
After the announcements and presentations of the scholarships and award, Principal Gibbs said this was one of the proudest moments of the year and summarizes the hard work of the students, who have set themselves up for success. He proudly announced the new school record for scholarships, awards, and offerings.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon County News, LLC)
