South Carolina 4-H honors students, volunteers at 4-H State Congress

4-H presidential tray winners for 2017 (from left): MacKenzie Riley of Saluda County, Morgan McManus of Darlington County, Carey Herndon of Bamberg County and Geneffer Sweatman of Colleton County. Image Contributed By Clemson University

CLEMSON — Several South Carolina high school students have earned scholarships and trips to Atlanta and Washington, D.C., for their hard work in South Carolina 4-H, which recognized members and volunteers at the 55th annual 4-H State Congress held at Clemson University.

More than 175 young people and their family members, Clemson Cooperate Extension agents and volunteers attended the event to celebrate 4-H’s dedication to learning, leadership and citizenship.

“We are so proud of all of our 4-H members and thankful for the many county Extension agents and volunteers who bring 4-H programing to every county of the state,” said Pamela Ardern, state 4-H program leader. “State Congress is an opportunity to recognize all of that hard work over the past year, while offering 4-H members unique opportunities to continue their educational endeavors at National 4-H Congress and National 4-H Conference.”

Carey Herndon of Bamberg County, Morgan McManus of Darlington County, MacKenzie Riley of Saluda County and Geneffer Sweatman of Colleton County received the organization’s highest honor, the 4-H Presidential Tray. The Presidential Tray recognizes the top four senior 4-H members who are National 4-H Congress or National 4-H Conference alumni with outstanding accomplishments in 4-H leadership, citizenship and project work. The award includes a $1,500 educational scholarship.

National 4-H Conference winners recognized for outstanding achievement in leadership and citizenship are Savanna Hill of Florence County, Nikole Rivers of Dorchester County and Lindsey Scott and Sarah Shore of Saluda County. They will receive a $500 educational scholarship and attend the National 4-H Conference next April in Washington. The weeklong conference features numerous workshops and activities focused on personal development and encourages young people to connect, learn, engage, lead and impact their communities.

South Carolina 4-H State winners recognized for outstanding achievements in 4-H projects and activities are Stephanie Aull of Lexington County, Junelle Gray Johnson of Charleston County, Lindsey Scott of Saluda County, Meghan Sheets of Charleston County, Sarah Shore of Saluda County and Faith Whittemore of Charleston County. Each winner receives of $500 scholarship and will attend the National 4-H Congress in November in Atlanta, where they’ll participate in educational workshops, team-building activities and community service projects.

Wilson Pressley of Spartanburg County received the Spirit of 4-H award, which recognizes a 4-H member’s commitment to the 4-H pledge: “I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.” Pressley received a $500 scholarship.

Recipients of the Glen Krohn Volunteer Award are Melissa Brundage of Lee County and Edwin Terry of Laurens County.

South Carolina 4-H is the youth-development arm of Clemson University Cooperative Extension. Programs cover animal science, agriculture, science, engineering, natural resources, healthy living, leadership and much more. Participation in South Carolina 4-H has grown more than 20 percent over the past two years. Last year, more than 104,400 young people in kindergarten through 12th grades participated in 4-H programming, and more than 4,000 volunteers committed their time to support 4-H programs and events.

Author: Duane Childers

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