What a grand celebration was had for this group of dedicated Colleton County High School seniors, who have persevered and are excited and ready for graduation! They all belong to the Young Men of Hope Class of 2025. “The Wise Use of Time” was the theme for the occasion. This brunch in their honor, along with parents and other invited guests, was held on April 24 at the Ray T. Johnson Building Banquet Room on Gruber Street in Walterboro. The venue was beautifully decorated in blue and white. Executive Director Dr. Queenie L. Crawford graciously welcomed everyone attending. Minister Anna S. Bright blessed the delicious meal prepared again this year by the Jericho United Methodist Women in Faith. Everyone delightfully feasted on Southern fried chicken, country fried pork chops, delectable green beans, macaroni au gratin, Gullah-Geechee red rice and sausage, Italian pasta salad with chopped ham, cornbread, red velvet cake, along with other desserts, iced tea, and water.
In lieu of a keynote speaker, Dr. Crawford selected the following members of the class to speak a few minutes about the theme and how it applies to each of them: Da’Veon Varner, Karter Stephens, Lashombre Johnson, and twins Davon Theisen and Javon Theisen. All of them were so well-spoken and did it from the heart. It was clearly obvious that the task put before them to speak on this topic was accepted with much pride.
Mr. Cornelius Hamilton, Student Achievement Facilitator, shared words of motivation and encouragement with the YMOH. Presentations were given by Dr. Crawford. Each one of the graduates was presented with a gift reflective of the theme, an engraved clock, along with a gift bag of other special items. They also received a framed copy of their senior portraits. Because of their perseverance throughout the years that they participated, those graduates who will be attending college or a technical school will receive the Young Men of Hope Scholarship in the amount of $200 each.
The other members of the Young Men of Hope Class of 2025 are as follows: Jequil Bahrenburg-Miles, John Delk, Nyeon Dubois, Devin Dwight, Kenneth Farmer, Terrance Frazier, Javon Gethers, Mekhi Hampleton, Daniel Hawk, Jason Hickman, Bryan Hiers, Austin Hunt, Isaiah James, Andre Jenkins, Tae’Shon Jenkins, Elias Jones, Joshua King, Mikal Lawton, Jorge Leyva, Dale Lyons, Jahiem McCormick, Bryson Peres, Ivan Perez, Jamarius Powell, Amauri Sanders, Matthew Shearer, Caleb Stallings, Kenneth Ulmer, Rocco Vera, Centrell Washington, Ja’Quan Washington, Jaedyn Williams, and Jy’quell Williams. These students will be entering college or technical school in the fall, the workforce, and the military. Some other accomplishments of this class are that Karter Stephens has received a full scholarship to attend South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC, and Da’Veon Varner has received a full scholarship to attend Morris College in Sumter, SC. Lashombre Johnson will be reporting to the United States Navy in July and will be employed in Cybersecurity, earning a very lucrative salary! He has been a member of NJROTC all four years that he has been in high school. Some of the students were unable to attend the Brunch due to other obligations. Further, the YMOH Ambassadors attending the Brunch were Jayden Hudson and Broden Richards.
These students were identified in fifth grade and were followed through the twelfth grade.
Dr. Crawford has worked with over 200 students since the inception of this program, and only about six of them did not complete the program. This program is funded through a grant. Next year’s class will be the last one. Dr. Crawford has done a phenomenal job working with these students in this organization, and she is to be commended for her dedication, caring, compassion, and diligence in making a tremendous difference in their lives.
Special thanks were extended to all of the parents and grandparents, especially for their dedicated support to their children, grandchildren, and the organization. Thanks were also extended to CCHS Principal Uirica Bodison, Senior Counselor Christine Brown, Dr. Harold Rhodes, Mrs. Patricia Grant, former Colleton County Clerk of Court; Mr. Herman Bright, photographer, retired educator, and United States Army (Ret.); Minister Anna Bright, journalist, author, and retired educator; Ms. Josephine Gant, Mr. Romeo Edwards, educator; Mr. Wayne Shider, entrepreneur and former CCSD Board Member; Faith Tabernacle Deliverance Temple of Orangeburg, SC, and Jericho United Methodist Women in Faith.
