Kidz Klub students wore white jackets at their end-of-summer ceremony where their efforts in science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and mathematics were honored.
Nonprofit organization Partners for Change of the Carolinas, which is focused on enhancing the educational journeys of local students, created the Kidz Klub summer enrichment program, which had its end-of-camp ceremony earlier this month.
According to a news release, the program has served the Sumter community for 13 years, pulling students from Sumter, Clarendon and Williamsburg counties.
Students ages 6 to 18 conducted experiments and flew drones through a sponsorship by South Carolina State University's 1890 Extension Program under the leadership of Ronnie Rhodes.
The camp's theme was "STREAMing through a New World," said camp director Brian Jones. The mission of the camp revolved around the founders' idea that high-tech jobs are imperative to the future and that they want all children to be prepared.
S-Science, T-technology, R-reading, E-engineering, A-arts and M-math were the subjects the camp revolved around.
Students visited Camp Bob Cooper, where they studied aquatic life and osprey birds. As students traveled to Myrtle Beach, they visited WonderWorks, which provides interactive science exploration.
"Tonight culminates the five-week program," executive director and retired pharmacist Valencia Gray-Williams said in reference to the closing ceremony. "Many times, the 'white coat' ceremony lacks inclusion of Afro-American students. It is our attempt to embed the possibility in the early years in hopes of seeing them as engineers, computer programmers, cybersecurity technicians, health care workers and so many other white-coat-driven professionals."
Partners for Change of the Carolinas credits its success with Kidz Klub to the City of Sumter, the Sumter Police Department, the Sumter Fire Department, the Sumter Tennis Association, E=MC2 Science program, Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, St. Paul AME Church, Westend Community Church, HYPE, Asset Realty (Joyce Williams), The Gray Law firm (attorneys Ruben and Jean Gray), Clemson 4-H, Williamsburg County School District (Dr. Rose Wilder) and all of the staff of the three HOPE Centers.
"And a special thanks to our sponsor, South Carolina State University's 1890 4-H program. The parents and friends are our greatest supporters in which we are forever grateful," Gray-Williams said. "The nonprofit was created to provide South Carolina youth with the opportunity to explore education in different and creative ways, and we were able to delve into the sciences and math in a creative way."
https://www.theitem.com/stories/kidz-klub-of-partners-for-change-of-the-carolinas-celebrates-stream,367541?
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