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O-W honored for creating 'college-going culture'

November 17, 2009

Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School is the winner of the 2009 Deloitte Award, College Summit South Carolina announced Monday.

The Deloitte Award is a national award that honors high schools that use innovative approaches to develop a sustainable, college-going culture among their students. The award will be presented during the College Summit Peer Leadership Academy to be held Friday, Nov. 20 on the campus of South Carolina State University.

“To know that we are building a culture here that fosters higher learning is truly remarkable,” said Orangeburg-Wilkinson Principal Gregory McCord. “Considering the fact that we are a large school in an urban district that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, this effort will truly support what we are trying to do to break the cycle of poverty here in Orangeburg.”

An important part of Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School’s strategy for increasing college awareness is a monthly program where the high school takes students to visit college campuses around the state. Officials say that allows students to become familiar with college life and decide which type of campus is best for them.

As the Deloitte Award winner, Orangeburg-Wilkinson will be awarded $5,000 to increase the number of students participating in the College Summit program. O-W expects to allow a minimum of 25 more students to participate in the program thanks to the award.

YaKima Rhinehart, executive director of College Summit South Carolina said, “We are pleased to present this award to O-W. As one of our first partners in South Carolina, District 5 has diligently worked to foster in their students the belief that college is not only a possibility, but an eventuality.”

Originally post by The Times and Democrat