Photo Provided

Dan Stone, Derek Snook, Dendy Engelman, Abigail Mandel, Mary Haynes Abel, Matthew Simmons, and Eric Bellin were honored as distinguished alumni by Pinewood Preparatory School.

Saturday, January 7 was an evening full of proud moments as The Pinewood Alumni Association and the Pinewood Athletic Department honored alumni and friends.  The awardees were recognized in front of family and friends at a special reception and ceremony held in Freedom Hall.

Derek Snook was named the Pinewood Preparatory School Outstanding Young Alumnus in recognition for his success and influence as a leader in his work and community. Derek returned to Charleston after four months of volunteering at Christ Gift Academy in Kenya and he voluntarily became a resident of the Star Gospel Mission, a transitional housing facility for formerly homeless men, located on Meeting Street. Upon moving into the mission, Derek discovered that many of the homeless and near-homeless members of this community work as day laborers. Derek decided to work day labor himself. He saw an opportunity and “In Every Story” was incorporated in 2009. The biggest difference between IES and other temp agencies is that before ever setting foot on a job site, clients and IES officers identify a goal that will increase the client’s self-sufficiency. It may be the first month’s rent on an apartment, a used car, or additional education. For every hour that a client works, a pre-set amount of money is deposited into the Hope Fund. If the client works the agreed-upon number of hours, and if he or she has showed up and stayed clean, IES writes a check directly to the apartment complex, used car lot, or educational institution corresponding with the client’s goal.  

Pinewood Junior Abigail Mandel was presented the Student Achievement Award in recognition as a student who has been active in advancing the welfare of the school and its student body as well as having interaction with the Pinewood alumni. A dedicated student, strong athlete, and member of the International Thespian Society, Abby Mandel was part of Pinewood’s ten member group who traveled to Scotland to perform at the invitation only Edinburgh Art Festival - the largest arts festival in the world.

Dr. Dendy Engelman was named a Pinewood Distinguished Alumnus saluting her achievements as an outstanding alumnus whose personal life, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of her alma mater.

Dendy is a board certified dermatologist and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery and American College of Mohs Surgery. She attended Wofford College in South Carolina and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude with honors in a double-major program in psychology and French with a focus in pre-medical studies. Dendy earned the Presidential Scholar award while a medical student at the Medical University of South Carolina. She was also awarded the Humanism in Medicine Scholarship primarily for establishing and running a free medical care clinic in Charleston. In an effort to continue to provide medical care to the underserved, Dendy and her family provide medical care in Haiti annually. Following medical school, Dendy completed her internship in Internal Medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. In addition to a dermatology residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dendy completed a one-year fellowship in dermatologic surgery, lasers, liposuction and vein treatments. Dendy has recently been named the Director of Dermatologic Surgery at New York Medical College in Manhattan.

Long time Pinewood faculty member Dan Stone was named the Pinewood Honorary Alumnus of the Year in recognition as an outstanding individual who greatly enhances Pinewood Preparatory School through his commitment and service.

Pinewood Athletic Director Nancy Beatty then enshrined four individuals into Pinewood’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Plaques for Eric Bellin, Derek Snook, Matthew Simmons, and Mary Haynes Abel will be placed along side the existing 24 Hall of Famers in Pinewood’s Eidson Gym.

Eric Bellin is the father to Pinewood alum Heather Bellin. Eric engineered and directed many athletic field projects. He spent endless hours putting in drainage, laying water lines, and constructing our practice and soccer/football fields in the early 2000’s.

Mary Haynes Abel graduated in 2006 as the Valedictorian and also was an AP and National Merit Scholar. She was enshrined into Pinewood’s Inner Circle because of her achievements in both academics and athletics. Mary received the prestigious Bill Simpson Award from SCISA her senior year. She competed with hundreds of athletes in 43 SCISA schools to earn this award and is only Pinewood’s second recipient of this award. She played both basketball and volleyball while attending Pinewood.

Matthew Simmons graduated in 2006 and was enshrined into Pinewood’s Inner Circle because of his accomplishments in basketball. He was on the State Championship team in      2006 and the State Runner-Up team in 2005. He was named the Region Player of the Year and SCISA AAA Player of the Year in 2006.  Matthew scored 1,049 points during his high school career. ?

Derek Snook graduated in 2004 and was a 3-year starter for Coach Eidson. He was a member of the State Runner-Up teams of 2002 and 2004. Derek was named Region Player of the Year in 2004. At the conclusion of his high school career, Derek had scored 1,342 points and collected 533 rebounds. His totals place him 6th on the all-time scoring and 6th on the all-time rebounding lists for Pinewood.

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