School District Five Social Studies Coordinator Melony Sanford has been named the recipient of this year’s Charles F. Vaughan Leadership in Social Studies Award by the South Carolina Council for the Social Studies (SCCSS). The award recognizes K–12 educators in South Carolina who demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication to theContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Playing for American Legion Cayce Post 130 was more than just the beginning of a baseball journey for Kip Bouknight — it was a life-shaping experience. “American Legion baseball was more than a game, it was a foundation for life,” Bouknight said. “It taught me discipline,Continue Reading
Jason Giulietti, President & CEO of the Central SC Alliance, has been named to the inaugural class of ResearchFDI Academy’s Foreign Direct Investment Professionals (FDIP), a recognition announced during the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference. The FDIP designation honors leaders who have demonstrated exceptional success in attracting andContinue Reading
Members of the Lexington-Richland School District Five FFA Chapter traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, October 28–November 1 to compete in the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo. The students represented South Carolina in the National FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event, earning a silver rating and placing 16th nationally. Forty-five teams—180Continue Reading
Special to The New Chapin NewsBy Thomas Grant Jr. The University of South Carolina made history Sunday, retiring its first-ever women’s soccer jersey at Stone Stadium. The honor went to Savannah McCaskill, a Chapin native and former Irmo High School standout whose number 7 jersey now joins an elite groupContinue Reading
IRMO — Lexington-Richland School District Five has been ranked the number one school district in the Midlands and the Best Place to Teach in Columbia, according to the newly released 2026 Best Schools in America report by Niche.com. In addition to leading the Midlands, District Five earned the No. 3Continue Reading
Spring Hill High School will be recognized today, Thursday, October 2, as South Carolina’s College Application Month “School of Excellence” by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The honor also places Spring Hill among just 26 schools nationwide recognized by ACT’s American College Application Campaign (ACAC) for their effortsContinue Reading
IRMO – Dr. Tim Swick, Dual Enrollment Lead for Lexington-Richland School District Five, has been selected as a 2025–26 Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Responsible AI Fellow. “I am honored and excited to be named a Responsible AI Fellow with CSTA,” said Dr. Swick. “This opportunity will not only allowContinue Reading
IRMO – Eleven District Five high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the prestigious 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented students now have the chance to compete for nearly $26 million in scholarships to be awarded next spring. District Five semifinalists are: “Congratulations to each of our students whoContinue Reading
Columbia Chamber to Honor Sharon Bryant at 122nd Annual Gala The Columbia Chamber will honor Sharon W. Bryant with the Ambassador of the Year Award at Uncorked, the Chamber’s 122nd Annual Gala, on October 2. The award, sponsored by Colonial Life, recognizes a community leader who exemplifies outstanding business ethicsContinue Reading
IRMO, S.C. – PAGE Five is proud to announce that Raheem O’Sullivan, a 2025 graduate of Irmo High School, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Tami Richardson Gifted & Talented Scholarship. This annual $1,000 merit-based award recognizes outstanding achievement among gifted and talented students in Lexington-Richland SchoolContinue Reading
Richland County Deputy among five first-responders to be honored on the eve of the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) School Resource Officer (SRO) Todd Minemier, one of the longest-serving certified SROs in South Carolina, received EastminsterContinue Reading
School District Five has been named a Purple Star School District by the South Carolina Department of Education. The Purple Star School program makes a significant commitment to welcome and support military families. The districts who earn this distinction must complete the following SC Department of Education criteria for PurpleContinue Reading
Board Chair Allison Terracio (left) and Marketing Director Pamela Bynoe-Reed (right) Recognized for Excellence in Transportation Leadership Columbia, S.C. (August 20, 2025) – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) is celebrating two of its top leaders who have received statewide recognition for their impact on public transportation. RichlandContinue Reading
IRMO – River Springs Elementary School physical education teacher Ben Landers was honored with the ARTIE Award at the annual National Physical Education Institute, held July 17–18, 2025, at UNC Asheville. The ARTIE Award—short for Awesome Rad Thinking in Education—is named after Artie Kamiya, a nationally recognized leader in theContinue Reading
IRMO – Dutch Fork Elementary School’s afterschool program director and computer teacher, Cissy Graham, has been named to the fourth class of the South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered (SCALE) Fellowship. SCALE brings together 20 emerging leaders in afterschool and summer learning from across the state each year. Fellows gain toolsContinue Reading