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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

Grayson Porter

WESTMINSTER — Grayson Porter, a senior at West-Oak High School, has been named a South Carolina Teaching Fellow, the state’s most prestigious fellowship for future teachers. The S.C. General Assembly, recognizing the shortage of teachers in the state and the importance of quality teachers in every classroom, annually funds the Teaching Fellows Program. This program identifies highly gifted high school seniors who commit to teaching in South Carolina. Following a rigorous application and interview process, Porter was selected from more than 750 student applicants.

Each year, the program awards Fellowships for up to 200 high school seniors who have exhibited high academic achievement, a history of service to the school and community and a desire to teach South Carolina’s children. The Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA), a state agency housed at Winthrop University, is responsible for administering the South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program.

As a Teaching Fellow, Porter will participate in an advanced education program at Anderson University, one of 11 Teaching Fellows Institutions in South Carolina. In addition, Porter will have the opportunity for leadership development during the summer, involvement with communities and businesses throughout the state and up to $24,000 in scholarship money. A Fellow agrees to teach in South Carolina’s public schools for at least four years following graduation. “Students in the Teaching Fellows program will have numerous opportunities to become familiar with all aspects of the teaching profession,” according to Brett Vaughn, Program Director for the Teaching Fellows. “We continue to work toward our goal of having a Teaching Fellow working in every district in the state, with hopes that these teachers will serve as models of teacher quality and catalysts for increased student achievement.”