The Richland One Board used the May 12 meeting to recognize student and teacher achievements across the district.
Dr. Carolyn Donalan and flight consultant Don Culp described the Challenger Learning Center's pilot ground-school program and introduced four seniors who are the first in the district to complete private-pilot ground-school training using a new immersive flight simulator funded in part by a $62,000 grant from the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission. The students completed more than 34 hours of classroom study and roughly 10 hours of simulator training and are prepared to take the private-pilot written exam.
Dr. Latoya Curry Jones introduced 11 educators who earned National Board Certification; the district presented plaques with assistance from EPI and district staff.
Dr. Andrea Lance of Discovery Education recognized Hopkins Middle School and Richland One CTE staff for completing a 2025–26 Discovery Education rural STEM camp pilot focused on energy, water, urban infrastructure and career connections; students visited manufacturing partners such as BMW in Spartanburg as part of the pilot.
Board members applauded the students and staff and invited the district to continue building career-connected learning opportunities.