From staff reports
Whale Branch Early College High School junior Chrisitan Dantzler and Beaufort Academy junior Elizabeth Foster answered the League of Women Voters Beaufort’s (LWVB) Challenge.
League of Women Voters Beaufort issued a Challenge to Beaufort County high school and college students to create an educational tool designed to inform Beaufort County citizens about topics pertaining to local government.
Their submission could include any subject that educates the public about local issue, government processes, or opportunities facing our elected community leaders.
The idea for the Challenge came from LWVB Vice-President Lisa Wandrick. The format could be 2D designs, 3D designs, animation or game designs, videos, photography, essays, poems, short story, screenplay, etc.
Winners were announced at the LWVB Annual Meeting on June 9, 2022.
Judges were Barbara Childs, LWVB Secretary; Billy Keyserling, former Mayor of Beaufort; Cherie Mack, local educator and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority member; Marie Smalls, Director of the Beaufort County Board of Elections; and Angela Peery, EdD, educator and author.
Judging Criteria included:
– A fit with the LWVB mission and non-partisan position;
– Relevancy to Beaufort County voters;
– Originality/creativity;
– Ability for use as an educational tool;
– Ability to adapt format to different topics in the future.
Dantzler, a junior from Whale Branch Early College High School, won first place with a video explaining the voting process and deadlines for elections. Dantzler won $1,000. Her video is available on the LWVB You Tube channel “Beaufort SC League of Women Voters Beaufort, SC Area.”
Foster, a junior from Beaufort Academy, won honorable mention with a 3D model demonstrating the current teacher shortage and proposed solutions including pay increases, supportive work environments and mentoring for new teachers. Foster won $100.
Outgoing LWVB President Jane Caffrey presented the Challenge Award checks.
