SMC initiates Essay Contest for Jesse Bobo Elementary School

Spartanburg Methodist College is pleased to announce the first through third place winners of their Jesse Bobo Elementary School Essay Writing contest.

SMC has partnered with Jesse Bobo for the past few years in various capacities. This year, the partnership expanded to include an essay contest for Jesse Bobo’s 3rd through 5th grade students.  Winners were chosen based on the 2013-2014 PASS writing rubric.  The essays were anonymously judged by college faculty and the top three winners were recognized at SMC’s annual Awards Program on Thursday, April 24th.

Earning first place recognition was Madisyn Cobb; second place went to Yamaris Baldwin; and third place award went to Kriti Baral.  “SMC is proud to support Jesse Bobo Elementary School as they prepare their students to be life-long learners, and successful and productive members of society.  Our shared vision is that all the Bobo Bears will attend college or a skills program to provide them with the necessary skills for real life,” shared Dr. Ann Bowles, VP for Academic Affairs at SMC.

SMC also honored three Jesse Bobo students during the college’s Fine Arts Night on Tuesday, April 22. Madisyn Cobb was recognized for her first place charcoal drawing; Tamia Wilkes was recognized for her second place tempera paint and oil pastel self-portrait; and Lily Sims was recognized for a third place mixed media collage based on the artwork of Jonathan Green, an artist from the South Carolina low country who painted scenes from the Gullah culture.

SMC’s Kappa Sigma Alpha honor society has an ongoing relationship with JB’s students and SMC has partnered with JB to bring an early morning reading program to students who arrive for early breakfast.  Five SMC athletic teams (Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball and Wrestling) along with members of the SMC faculty and staff meet JB students in the library, classrooms and gym to share their favorite books.  “I am very proud of our young men and women for showing firsthand how important reading and an education are to success in life,” stated SMC President Dr. Colleen Perry Keith.