[caption id="attachment_29156" align="aligncenter" width="1020"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/leadership.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-29156"><img class="size-large wp-image-29156" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/leadership-1024x683.jpg" alt="From left, Beaufort County students Halli Noid, Savannah Thomas and Jay McBrayer were among 47 rising high school juniors and seniors from across South Carolina who recently participated in the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation’s 2016 Youth Leadership Conference in Newberry. The conference, held on the Campus of Newberry College, allowed students to gain valuable leadership skills, a better understanding of SC agriculture and of the South Carolina legislative process." width="1020" height="680" /></a> From left, Beaufort County students Halli Noid, Savannah Thomas and Jay McBrayer were among 47 rising high school juniors and seniors from across South Carolina who recently participated in the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation’s 2016 Youth Leadership Conference in Newberry. The conference, held on the Campus of Newberry College, allowed students to gain valuable leadership skills, a better understanding of SC agriculture and of the South Carolina legislative process.[/caption]

<b>Jimenez named to </b><b>Coker College Dean's List</b>

Omar Govea Jimenez, of Bluffton, has been named to the spring 2016 Dean's List at Coker College for earning a 3.75 or higher grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).

<b>Coosa Elementary earns international recognition</b>

Coosa Elementary School has earned international recognition for the quality of its student leadership program based on the best-selling book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

The prestigious recognition comes from the Franklin Covey Co., the worldwide consulting and training group that works with businesses and other institutions to improve performance.

Covey wrote “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” and the book’s leadership principles have been adapted for young children and used to guide schools in developing Leader in Me educational programs in more than 150 countries.

Of 2,524 Leader in Me schools worldwide, only 206 have achieved Lighthouse status after being evaluated and approved by a review team from Franklin Covey Co.

<b>Whale Branch seniors </b><b>earn associate degrees</b>

A record 15 Whale Branch Early College High School seniors received two-year college associate’s degrees two weeks before they received their South Carolina high school diplomas.

The students took advantage of a partnership with the Technical College of the Lowcountry that allows Whale Branch students to take college courses – and earn two-year associate’s degrees – while still in high school, and at no cost to themselves or their parents.

<b>Beaufort County schools win arts grants</b>

Five Beaufort County schools have won more than $52,000 in grants to enhance arts education in their classrooms, the South Carolina Arts Commission has announced.

Only one South Carolina school district – Richland District 1 in Columbia – had more 2016 grant winners than Beaufort County.

The five schools were Beaufort Middle School ($9,437, eighth grant); Mossy Oaks Elementary ($12,883, first grant); Lady’s Island Elementary ($11,509, sixth grant); Lady’s Island Middle ($8,327, third grant); and Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts ($10,799, fourteenth grant).

<b>Beaufort High ROTC </b><b>brings home award </b>

Beaufort High School’s U.S. Air Force JROTC unit won the district’s 2016 Superintendent’s Cup. The 2016 Cup was awarded after cadets from all five district high schools competed in a drill team exhibition.

Judges scored the cadet teams based on their military appearance, precision, execution of movement, originality and time of routine.

The drill team competition was part of the 2016 JROTC Dining-In, a formal dinner for members of military organizations or units.