Provided

Pictured left to right: Fran Welch, Dean, School of Education, College of Charleston; Joe Benoit, Human Resources Manager of Giant Cement Company which was awarded a business education partnership award by Woodlands High School; Vernetta Simmel, Guidance Department at Woodland High School and Brad Davis, Chairman, The Education Foundation

Four businesses that are making an impact in area public schools recently received Business Education Partnership Awards from The Education Foundation and College of Charleston School of Business and Economics and the School of Education.

The Champions for Education Award is given to the extraordinary efforts of individuals and groups who work on behalf of improved education. In September, principals in the tri-county school districts, including Berkeley, Charleston, DD2 and DD4 were asked to nominate a business or community organization that is making a significant difference in school. One winner was selected in each of the four school districts.

Dorchester Two

Mr. Sign was nominated by Summerville High School and has been a faithful partner for more than 20 years. Wayne Waters, the owner of Mr. Sign in Summerville, is a graduate of Summerville High School and his children and family have also graduated from Summerville High School. The biggest impact that Waters has had is the implementation of the Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA). Upon hearing about it and recognizing its importance to the business community and the students at Summerville High School, he took the lead in helping get community support and expertise for the new programs at the school. As part of the EEDA, Summerville High School is transforming into Schools of Study, which will help students prepare for life after high school.

Dorchester Four

Giant Cement Company was nominated by Woodland High School. Joe Benoit and Susan Mertz of Giant Cement have implemented an effective program to educate students from dressing for success to completing a resume, students follow a 6-week course one day a week.

In the 9-hour workshop, conducted twice a year, students are given specific tools to aid them in successfully obtaining a desired job in their career search.   Students learn how to complete an employment application and create a resume’ with powerful accomplishment statements that showcase their special skills and talents.   For the culminating activity at the end of the workshop, students search for a job, prepare a cover letter, create a resume, memorize their own self-promoting summary, formulate questions to ask the interviewer, rehearse how best to answer interview questions, and experience a mock job interview conducted by area human resources personnel.

Giant employees have also contributed their time and talents and enthusiastically participated in mentoring, job shadowing, and career fairs.  The Company also supports academic and athletic scholarships and awards, and has also provided the school with classroom materials and supplies.

Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

• Santee Cooper announces 2012 refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper announces organizational changes in operation and finance departments
• Santee Cooper employees pitch in on Day of Caring
• Aerial herbicide treatment on lakes under way
• Santee Cooper Board Authorizes Rate Study
• Santee Cooper announces refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper, Florida Municipal Power Agency enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units
• Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units 2 and 3