The Manning Rotary Club welcomed a trio of guest speakers during its April 16 meeting, starting with Don Brice and Al Truesdale of the Summerton Rotary Club. Brice and Truesdale shared details about their club’s upcoming 4th Annual Clarendon County Prayer Breakfast, set for Thursday, May 1 at 8:30 a.m. at Manning United Methodist Church’s Education Building, located at 17 E. Rigby Street in Manning.
This year’s theme is “Heal Our Land,” and the featured speaker will be The Honorable Thomas W. Cooper Jr. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in Manning at Anderson Pharmacy, Manning City Hall, or the Chamber of Commerce; in Summerton at Summerton Pharmacy; and in Turbeville at Turbeville Town Hall, Citizens Bank, or Turbeville Hardware. The Manning Rotary Club voted to make a donation in support of the event.
The featured speaker of the day was Lara Kolb, Director of Clarendon County Adult Education. Kolb, who has led the program since 2017, offered an overview of the services her department provides and emphasized the personal transformations that happen when students are empowered to continue their education.
Clarendon County Adult Education serves residents ages 17 and up who are working toward a GED, learning English as a second language, strengthening their literacy or math skills, or pursuing workforce training and certifications.
“Our students come from all walks of life,” Kolb said. “Some are returning to the classroom after decades away. Others are juggling parenting and full-time jobs. But no matter their circumstances, they come to us with the same goal—to build a better future.”
Kolb shared stories of students who not only achieved their GEDs but went on to secure better-paying jobs, enroll in college, or pursue new careers. She also described partnerships with F.E. DuBose Career Center and local employers that help align student training with workforce needs.
“It’s not just about academics,” she said. “It’s about restoring confidence, setting goals, and believing in the possibility of something more. When someone earns their GED, their whole family feels it. Their children see what’s possible.”
Club President Johnson James thanked Kolb for her dedication and commended the lasting impact adult education is having across Clarendon County.
The Manning Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at noon at the Porter Jack’s. Visitors are always welcome.
