submitted to Times
Thirty-eight high school students from all-around Clarendon County were recently welcomed into the F.E. DuBose Career Center Chapter of the National Technical Honor Society during its winter induction, held on Tuesday, January 14. High-points of the program included the traditional candle-lighting ceremony, pinning three-year members, and honoring distinguished graduate of F. E. DuBose, Clarendon School District Two Board member Matthew Prince. Students from East Clarendon High School, Manning High School, and Phoenix Charter High School, Scott’s Branch High School were able to participate.
In order to be considered for membership in the honor society, candidates must have a grade average of an “A” in their career and technical education classes taken at F.E. DuBose as well as a teacher recommendation. Beginning in the Greenville-Spartanburg area over 30 years ago, NTHS now has over 4000 chapters nationwide, with 350 in South Carolina. The F.E. DuBose organization is considered one of the top in the state and the fourth oldest, chartering in 1984. The annual induction ceremony is a special event. The candle-lighting presentation acknowledges the seven characteristics each inductee must uphold: knowledge, skill, honesty, service, responsibility, scholarship, citizenship, and leadership. Each characteristic is also included in the pledge of membership. Students also commit to service projects when they join, participating in community service hours at the career center, their home high schools, and in the community.
At the time he attended F. E. DuBose, NTHS did not exist for Matthew Prince. However, the former director had created a “Hall of Fame” for his vocational students. Their names were included on a plaque that current director, Dr. Lisa Justice, came across while reorganizing and decorating the front office. “Many of the names on the plaque were familiar as successful members of our community. What better way to recognize them and to show our students how valuable their education at F. E. DuBose can be than to begin a new tradition of honorary membership into our chapter of NTHS,” says Justice. Matthew Prince, whose name appears on the plaque, was selected as the first distinguished graduate because of his continued support of the school, according to Justice. He spent two years in the Electricity program offered then at F. E. DuBose and attended Central Carolina after graduation. Prince went on to a forty-one year career with Carolina Power and Light, which eventually became Duke Energy. In addition to his tenure on the Clarendon Two Board of Trustees, Prince has also served as president of the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce. Prince shared a few thoughts with the students after receiving his award, telling them to take advantage of every moment and every opportunity in life.
Three year-members who were recognized at the ceremony include Dy’Azia Billie, Talaysia Hill, Ty’Sheria Logan, Niaja Robinson, Precious Scarborough, and Ciera Tevis. Members who led the ceremony included Dy’Azia Billie, May Bradley, De’Mari Brayboy, Daniella Cervantes, Anasia Felder, Lawanda Gamble, Allison Hodge, Kian Pack, Ciera Tevis, Brian White, and Syderial Wilson.
NTHS membership comes with many benefits for students who attend F.E. DuBose Career Center. For more information, please contact the school at 803-473-2531.
New inductees:
Aveon Abraham
Ciara Bannister
Hayden Beasley
Britney Bell
Zaviyonna Benthall-Lewis
Nadera Booker
De’Mari Brayboy
Makayla Brown
Catie Christmas
Christian Dow
Shakeriah Dow
Andrew Duke
Brianna Elliott
Corie Fairris
Austin Floyd
Dejah Gist
Riley Ham
Kenneth Hartfield
Gabriella Haselden
Dailisia Hilton
Jacob Huth
Codey Hughes
Steven Kirby
Jonathan Lee
Cheyenne Lewis
DeMonti Miller
Joy Murray
Cody Nexsen
Thomas Owens
Cole Parrott
Anthony Pearson
Ellese Rojas
Amber Self
James Stone
Angela Valdez-Espinoza
Matthew Wegner
Tiysheauna White
Keyon Wilson
