REC Coordinator Speaks at 2010 Children's Conference of Jack and Jill of America

Jay Blankenship, Greenville REC Coordinator for Personal Pathways to Success, served as one of the keynote speakers at the 2010 Childrens' Conference held by the Mid-Atlantic Region of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Over 300 parents and students from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia participated in the event on Saturday, March 20th at North Greenville Elementary School. The theme of the Children's Conference was "American Heritage Trail." Mr. Blankenship's presentation included these topics:

• What is Personal Pathways to Success?
• Importance of getting an education
• Community parenting

To learn more about Jack and Jill of America, please visit their website at http://www.jack-and-jill.org.

Wade Hampton High School Students Tour South Carolina State University

On March 12, 2010, a group of 11th and 12th grade students from Wade Hampton High School toured South Carolina State University. The students were provided with an opportunity to view a campus dorm room and have lunch in Washington Dining Hall. They also met and talked with several college students attending the university including an honor student, athlete, and a freshman who graduated from Greenville High School. The Department of Admissions provided the students with an informational session on the admissions process, scholarships, campus life, and Greek fraternities and sororities. The highlight of the day was the Nuclear Engineering information session held for the high school students. They viewed a video on Nuclear Engineering and were provided with information about careers in this industry including educational requirements and salaries earned.

Tanglewood Middle School Students Participate in ScanSource Shadowing Day

On February 16, 2010, a group of 8th graders from Tanglewood Middle School were provided with an opportunity to participate in a Job Shadowing Day at ScanSource, Inc. The students were allowed to tour various stations setup to introduce them to a job task that an employee would perform in the areas of sales, customer service, distribution, Point-of-Sale (POS) and Finance. According to Tanglewood Middle School’s Career Specialist, Aretha Barnes, “the day gave students the opportunity to gain specific knowledge about the career areas that were discussed.” The event was invaluable to the learning and inspiration of the students; it was also informative and entertaining. Several of the 8th graders asked when they would get an opportunity to visit again.

Personal Pathways to Partner with Furman University’s Bridges to a Brighter Future Program

The Greenville Regional Education Center and Furman University’s Bridges to a Brighter Future Program will collaborate on initiatives, projects and activities that are beneficial to both organizations. Bridges to a Brighter Future is a pre-college academic enrichment program for Greenville County ninth-through-twelfth-grade high school students who have academic and leadership potential but whose family income is below the poverty level and many of whom are living in difficult and seriously challenging circumstances. To learn more visit their website at http://www.furman.edu/bridges.