LOWCOUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION HELPS PROMOTE GULLAH CULTURE  

The Gullah community on Hilton Head Island has endured decades of obstacles to achieve its rightful place as landowners, stewards of a West African culture, advocates of an improved quality of life on the island and voices of its people and for the people. 

There have been commissions, task forces, organizations, a staff position and a lengthy independent report over the past years assigned the task of assisting and promoting the Gullah life to keep it vibrant and preserved as a historical treasure.  

TCL OFFERS FREE TUITION, FEES

Through newly available federal, state and private funding sources, the Technical College of the Lowcountry will cover tuition and fees for those who are eligible for the spring 2022 semester. The deadline to enroll for TCL’s Spring I semester is Jan. 6. Students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours, or about two classes, for the spring semester and complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). For more information, visit tcl.edu.

ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE

It’s a time for looking back and planning for what’s next as St. Francis Catholic School celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. 

The school that began with 45 pre-K and kindergarteners is now graduating its 20th eighth-grade class and principal Brian Pope has been witness to each of those ceremonies. 

BLUFFTON’S JULIA HERRIN USES MISS SOUTH CAROLINA PLATFORM TO PROMOTE CHANGE

Bluffton native Julia Herrin, the reigning Miss South Carolina, looks poised and professional as she strides forward in a fitted blue dress with matching heels.

It’s mid-November and her enthusiasm for the upcoming 100th Miss America Competition is even more striking than her outfit. She’s also eager to dispel old notions about beauty queens.

PEBBLES

Age: 3 years old
Gender: Male
Weight: 37 pounds
Breed: Carolina Dog and Lab mix
Temperament: Obedient, loving, laid back.

AIMEE WHITESELL HONORED AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

AIMEE WHITESELLWhen the work you love, loves you back, the results can be extraordinary. 

“It’s magic when I think about it,” says Aimee Whitesell, newly named Beaufort County 2021-2022 District Teacher of the Year, and Battery Creek High School’s teacher of the year.

The recognition for Whitesell has been sweet. 

“Ask any teacher and most will tell you that they’re just doing their job,” says Whitesell, who leads the science department at the high school. “I love my school and my students.”

ENJOY A LUXURY WEEKEND IN ASHEVILLE

In recent years Asheville, N.C., has become a local blueprint for many Lowcountry entrepreneurs on how to grow a thriving and passionate craft brewery scene. It’s just the latest creative and artistic revival to occur in this gem of the western North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. 

While the majestic natural vistas, the arts and architecture draw millions each year, the city has some of the more luxurious weekend getaway spots for explorers looking for a quick weekend escape. 

BLUFFTON’S STAN ROGERS LEADS GRAY’S REEF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

Growing up in the small Lowcountry town of Estill, Stan Rogers lived an hour inland from the broad, flat Atlantic beaches along South Carolina’s coast. But Hilton Head Island always felt like part of the neighborhood.

“We were always going to the beach, down to Coligny, when I was growing up,” he says. “I wasn’t born on Hilton Head, but my backyard was the beach.”