Wedding & Event Venue near Laurens, SC

The South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association (SCACA) and the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL), in partnership with the Excellence in Coaching Project, recently announced the 25 Coaches who were selected for participation in South Carolina’s inaugural “Tomorrow’s 25” class.

Tomorrow’s 25 is the signature leadership program from the Excellence in Coaching Project. It is a 10-month fellowship designed to invest in 25 coaches from across the state who have been deemed an emerging leader in high school and middle school athletics. Currently, the Tomorrow’s 25 Coaching Fellowship is adopted in South Carolina and Mississippi.

“Tomorrow’s 25 was a game-changer in South Carolina and so badly needed for today’s world of coaching,” said Scott Earley, Executive Director of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association. “The program is the best thing we have done in a long time.”

All 25 coaches were identified by a selection committee and represent the best the state has to offer.

Final selections had to represent the values of the coaching fellowship – a love of young people and a desire to develop them for life within the context of sports – and had to demonstrate excellence in their sports as ambassadors for the state. Serving on this year’s selection committee were Maggie Jameson (Abbeville High School), Greg Johnson (West Florence High School), John Combs (Spring Valley High School), Thomas Bell (T.L. Hanna High School), and Tydles Sibert (Woodland High School).

Over the course of 10 months, Tomorrow’s 25 Coaches will travel five times to locations in Columbia and Clinton for in-person class, while the other five sessions are done virtually. The goals for each session of the coaching fellowship are to assist in three areas of growth for each candidate:

1. Coaching the Whole Athlete (Leadership, Resilience, Empathy, and Responsibility) – Each participant will be able to implement all sessions’ materials at their current school and share with their colleagues.

2. Opportunity to network with 24 of their peers who have demonstrated the capacity to be the state’s future leaders in athletics.

3. Access to current leaders in the SCACA, SCHSL, College Athletics, and other thought-leaders in education to learn how they can grow their spheres of influence in their communities and across the state.

The first session was held on August 14, and the coaches are nearing their seventh class session which will be held on February 12. This year’s class of coaches will officially finish the program in mid-May.

This is also the first year the Tomorrow’s 25 program is in two states (South Carolina and Mississippi) with the hopes that more intentional out-of-state collaboration will foster breakthroughs in the coaching profession.

“Collaborating with other states creates a unique opportunity for the groups to share with and learn from each other,” said Dr. Jerome Singleton, Commissioner of the South Carolina High School League. “It gives them their best chance at success in the coaching profession as it relates to the people they represent and serve.”

South Carolina’s inaugural “Tomorrow’s 25” class members, their sports, and their schools are:

Shawn Armstrong, football/strength, South Florence High School

Ethan Campbell, football, Clinton High School

Zach Corliss, basketball, Hillcrest High School

Jerran Devlin, football/strength; West Florence High School

Thomas Farley, baseball/football/wrestling, Southside High School

Samantha Ferguson, basketball/tennis/softball, Dixie High School

Greg Hall, assistant athletic director/track, Cane Bay High School

Tony Heilbronn, athletic director, North Myrtle Beach High School

Lacy Johnson, volleyball/softball, Abbeville High School

Garrett Knight, athletic director, Westwood High School

Collin Liggett, athletic director, Saint James High School

Keith Lowman, baseball, Woodland High School

Jim Maciejewski, athletic director, Mauldin High School

Bradley Nickles, soccer, Emerald High School

Matthew Oberly, cross country/track, Spring Valley High School

Tori Patterson, baseball, Laurens District 55 High School

Chris Perdomo, football, Wren High School

Samantha Rizer, softball, T.L. Hanna High School

Brian Rosefield, athletic director, Ridge View High School

Josh Staley, basketball, Ridge View High School

Liz Stojetz, soccer, Greenville Senior High School

Brandon Tedder, strength, Hartsville High School

Hannah Towery, basketball/softball, Saluda High School

Julian Wright, basketball/football, Gaffney High School

Cori Zimmerman, cheer, Spring Valley High School

The Laurens County Museum (museum) was awarded a Museum & Library Style Exhibit Major Grant from the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) to help the community rediscover its significant American Revolution history.

The $81,154 grant will help fund a Revolutionary War Exhibition set to open in 2026, in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Twenty percent of the grant will be matched with funds from the Laurens County Museum and the Laurens County American Revolution 250 Committee.

The exhibit will commemorate Laurens County’s significant contributions to the American Revolution. It will feature key events, sites, and individuals in Laurens County and highlight the untold stories of African Americans, Native Americans, women, and children in the war, as well as the stories of the Patriots and Loyalists. Original art by Jorge Rubio Perez will illustrate significant battles and actions from across the county, and interactive displays will engage and educate visitors of all ages.

“We appreciate the support of SC250 as we prepare to display the significant role South Carolina and Laurens County played in the American Revolution,” said Museum Administrator Connie Post. “We look forward to telling the story of pivotal battles and diverse groups in Laurens County.”

The exhibition will also complement other local initiatives to recognize Laurens County’s contributions to the Revolutionary War, such as the Laurens County American Revolution 250 Committee’s (Laurens County 250) Cycling Through History tour of important sites. The museum has engaged Emanate Brands and Environments to lead the design and installation of the exhibit.

“I believe this substantive exhibit will remind and inspire citizens of our county’s role in the American Revolution,” said Ernie Segars, chairman of Laurens County 250. “We really appreciate the Laurens County Museum’s leadership in this project.“

“I am very excited that the Laurens County Museum will be the hub of our Laurens County Revolutionary War Trail, telling the stories of our heroes and heroines, as well as the unheralded,” said Dianne Culbertson, member of Laurens County 250 and SC250.

South Carolina hosted one-third of Revolutionary era battles and skirmishes, but the state’s significant contributions to America’s independence are rarely recognized in the national conversation. SC250 was established to educate residents and visitors about South Carolina’s contributions during the American Revolution.

For more information about the Laurens County Museum, visithttps://www.laurenscountymuseum.org/.

South Carolina locals often tell visitors they can experience all four seasons within the state.

While this is true, S.C. is also a place that offers residents and travelers different types of natural scenery.

In one moment, you may find yourself soaking up the sun while collecting seashells along the Isle of Palms shoreline. In another, you may be taking in the view atop a mountain in Landrum, located inland.

World Atlas recently compiled a list of some of the state's best-kept-secret towns, and two of them are in the Upstate. Curious to know where they are? Then keep reading to plan your next day trip.

SC's 8 best-kept secret towns, according to World Atlas

? Beaufort

? Edisto Island

? Hartsville

? Isle of Palms

? Walhalla

? Lake City

? Laurens

? Landrum

What did World Atlas say about Landrum?

The "delightful" little town of Landrum, founded in 1880, rests against the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is frequently visited by hikers who embark on the 14-mile Palmetto Trail's Blue Wall Passage. If you plan on trekking the trail, make sure you pack your camera so you can snap a picture of the 30-foot waterfall that awaits you on your adventure. Fans of Cajun cuisine can sink their teeth into juicy menu offerings from Southside Smokehouse for a much-needed post-hike meal. On Saturdays from April through December, you won't want to miss the Landrum Farmer's Market featuring homemade foods or crafts, fresh produce, and live entertainment, said World Atlas.

What did World Atlas say about Laurens?

Laurens is a small town that continues to grow and flourish. Located in Laurens County, its locals are welcoming to visitors and are quick to make them feel right at home. To check out the town's history, World Atlas recommends setting time aside on your day trip to visit the Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site or the Laurens County Museum. Afterward, be sure to grab a bite at the "legendary" Whiteford's Giant Burger, which has served customers in the area since 1957. And if fishing is one of your favorite pastimes, you can catch a variety of fish (bass, crappie, bream, perch, catfish, stripers) at Lake Greenwood State Park.

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com.