Columbia Rotarians Honor CCTC Dual Enrollment Student and CCTC Faculty Member

05/19/2021 (05/19/2021) — COLUMBIA - The Columbia Rotary Club has awarded a Central Carolina Technical College dual enrollment student a $20,000 academic scholarship and a Central Carolina faculty member with a plaque for being a "Teacher Who Made a Difference in the Education and Life" of this student.

The Columbia Rotary Club's Scholarship Committee and club leaders honored Eliza (Gracie) Sclater and Dr. Raymond Watkins during a special ceremony at the club's lunch meeting at Seawell's Catering on Monday.

Over the last two years, Sclater completed college credit courses with Central Carolina as she moved toward her high school diploma with the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS). The college has also recognized her achieving the President's List consistently. Sclater and her family live in an area zoned for Richland School District One in Columbia.

Sclater related how Dr. Watkins inspired her to pursue her dreams and encouraged her along the way during the time she took classes with him, and even afterwards.

"Students such as Gracie remind me why I love teaching so much," said Watkins who has been teaching college full-time for nearly 28 years. "I never tire of the joys that come from learning within a true learning community, and Gracie exemplifies what it means to embrace learning passionately," Watkins added.

Sclater told club members and guests how much it has meant to her to be able to have such a strong support system. Also attending the event were Sclater's mother, Elizabeth, and Sclater's counselor, Beth Martin, who serves as middle and high school director for the SCAIHS.

Sclater also noted how her beginning as a student at the University of South Carolina this fall will allow her further to pursue her long-term professional goals as she plans to double major in business and Spanish.

The Columbia Rotary Club has sought not only to award outstanding students who want to further their higher education but also to draw attention to faculty members whom students identify as having made a significant impact on their "education and life." Local Rotarian leaders shared how impressed they are with these emerging leaders and how Rotarians acknowledge the support is a viable way of investing in a stronger community for tomorrow.

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About Central Carolina Technical College

Central Carolina Technical College is a comprehensive, public, two-year institution of higher education that is dedicated to fostering a positive environment of teaching and learning for faculty, staff and students. The college serves primarily the region of Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties in South Carolina and confers associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. Central Carolina Technical College students have a wide array of programs and series from which to choose. Our online programming and cooperative agreements with other colleges and universities provide students with exceptional opportunities coupled with our more traditional learning opportunities. Learn more: cctech.edu.

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