Columbia Star

1963        Celebrating 60 Years      2023

Richland Two presents 2023 Black History Month honorees



 

 

Richland School District Two has announced its 6th Annual Black History Month honorees. Established in 2018 as a part of the celebration of Black History Month, the recognitions seek to identify and highlight persons connected to the district who have shown significant contributions to Black history and culture. The recognition ceremony was held February 27 at the Conference Center at Richland Two Institute of Innovation.

The Richland Two community was invited to submit nominations and a selection committee identified honorees in the categories of Art and Music; Education, Public Service; and Health, Science, Technology, Math and Engineering.

Dr. Helen Grant, the district’s chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, is the program’s founder. “We purposefully required honorees to be connected to our district so that students could learn about someone from their school district; someone who works or volunteers in their school or someone who is doing good work in their community. It’s good to have global and national heroes, but it’s also good for students to know that the people who they see in the grocery store, at the barber shop, or in their schools are heroes too,” said Dr. Grant.

The 2023 class of Richland Two Black History Month Honorees are:

Art and Music

•Vincent Edward Thomas—artistic director and choreographer and a full professor of dance at the collegiate level

•Jennifer Bartell Boykin—teacher and poet laureate for the City of Columbia Education

•Dr. Bobby Cunningham— director of the W.R. Rogers Adult and Technical Education Center and award winning coach

•Alvera Butler— principal of Joseph Keels Elementary School and community volunteer

•Dr. Florene Fulks— author and advocate for children with special needs, pastor, and community advocate

Public Service

•Dr. Chandra Cleveland— private investigator and international speaker

•Naida Rutherford— Richland County Coroner

Health, Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering

•Dr. Rodney Reid— chief of rheumatology at Dorn Veteran Affairs Medical Center and former parent volunteer

•Dr. Cedrek McFadden— colorectal surgeon and clinical assistant professor of surgery and Richland Northeast High School graduate

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