Latest news with #Bedenbaugh
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lexington County teacher wins SC Teacher of the Year award
Corey Bedenbaugh, a Lexington County social studies teacher, speaks during the annual Teacher of the Year award ceremony on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Screenshot of SC Department of Education livestream) COLUMBIA — A Lexington County social studies teacher is South Carolina's Teacher of the Year. Corey Bedenbaugh, who teaches eighth grade at Batesburg-Leesville Middle School, was selected from a group of five finalists to receive a grand prize of $25,000, state Superintendent Ellen Weaver announced Thursday during a ceremony at the Governor's Mansion. Teacher of the Year finalists Terri Ivester, Anderson School District 3 Jennifer Nelson, Hampton County School District Corey Bedenbaugh, Lexington County School District 3 Miranda Grice, Lexington County School District 4 Taylor Carvajal, SC School for the Deaf and the Blind Source: S.C. Department of Education In an acceptance speech, Bedenbaugh thanked his colleagues and the students he teaches, saying they impart as much wisdom to him as he does to them. 'To every student out there, you are the reason we do this,' Bedenbaugh said. 'Your dreams, your resilience and your light fuel our purpose.' Bedenbaugh initially wanted to become a lawyer, but the prelaw classes he took during his first year at Newberry College didn't inspire him, he said. At the urging of his college advisor, Bedenbaugh enrolled in education classes with the aim of becoming a history teacher. Those classes 'allowed me to see the true impact (my teachers) had left in me, an impact that I had not really seen prior to thinking about it,' Bedenbaugh said. Along with teaching, Bedenbaugh founded 'Bow Ties with Bedenbaugh,' a mentorship program meant to teach young men life skills. He also coaches a girls' basketball team and sponsors the school's student council and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, according to the state Department of Education. 'Corey Bedenbaugh is an outstanding educator who goes above and beyond to inspire his students every day,' his district superintendent, Ashley Atkinson, said in a statement. Each school district in the state selects its own teacher of the year, which the Department of Education narrows down to five finalists. Each receives $10,000. On top of an additional $15,000 from the state, Bedenbaugh received $2,000 from the Bojangles Foundation Fund, a BMW to drive for the coming year and the ability to take classes tuition-free toward a graduate degree from the University of South Carolina. 'This award is an honor and acknowledgement, but the real reward is the privilege of teaching,' said Bedenbaugh, who already holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix. The award also comes with extra responsibility. Bedenbaugh will spend the next year mentoring other teachers, working with high-achieving high school students who want to join the profession and leading an annual conference for educators. While the award goes to one teacher, it's meant to highlight the work of educators as a whole in helping the next generation of students grow, Weaver said. 'We're honoring all of those whose lasting influence stays long after classroom lights go out, those who are writing South Carolina's next chapter, one student, one lesson plan, one incredible breakthrough at a time,' Weaver said. Legislators in recent years have taken steps toward hiking teachers' pay and improving their working conditions. Since 2017, the state-funded minimum salary for first-year teachers has risen from $30,100 to $47,000, with legislators set to provide an additional $1,500 boost for the coming school year. That will bring the minimum pay for a teacher with 12 years of experience and a master's degree — what's loosely considered an average — to $58,750. Gov. Henry McMaster noted that more funding has also provided more mental health professionals and law enforcement officers in schools. All of that has been to help the state's teachers, said the governor, who fondly recalled the teachers who have shaped his own life. 'Ladies and gentlemen, if someone doesn't teach it to you, you're not going to know it,' McMaster said. Bedenbaugh called on everyone in the audience to continue supporting educators. 'Together, let's continue to champion the power of education, because when we invest in our children, we invest in the future of our great state,' Bedenbaugh said.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aiken Regional eyes expansion as Masters week, other events increase air traffic
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) — The Masters doesn't just bring golf patrons, it fills the skies too. Now, Aiken Regional Airport is looking to expand. 'The 10 days or so around the masters tournament is by far the busiest time of activity,' Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said. Every year, Aiken Regional Airport turns into a hub for high-profile arrivals—business leaders, celebrities, even emergency services. But the airport is struggling to keep up. 'We've had more equestrian events, more of the private, golf clubs with, national membership, we are seeing more plane traffic,' he added. The airport is hoping to get a little more than $8 million from the FAA. It'll go toward upgrading the runway—resurfacing, lighting, and some extensions. The feds would cover most of the cost, with the state and local government chipping in. 'We could not get a lot of the projects and improvements done without the aid of those matches,' Bedenbaugh shared. The $8 million helps, but it won't cover everything. Long-term plans include a permanent control tower, expanded taxiways, and terminal improvements. 'The proximity to Interstate 20 or going down US one toward Augusta makes it a nice destination,' he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aiken's mixed-use development faces questions, but city leaders stay confident
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) — A major downtown Aiken project once seen as a game-changer now faces big questions. The multi-million-dollar mixed-use development here was expected to house the Savannah River National Lab. But even with budget cuts raising concerns about the project's future, city leaders say it's still on track. 'I do believe that we would not have embarked on this if we were not going to see it ultimately fulfilled,' Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said. The $20 million project, funded by the Plutonium Settlement, was initially planned for the old Project Pascalis site — to provide space for SRNL to lease. By mid-2023, plans shifted to a three-story, 36,000-square-foot building on Newberry Street. 'Potentially the Savannah River National Lab. USC Aiken will have a permanent presence with dedicated space on the ground floor. There will also be large exhibition space and Class A office space on the upper floors,' he added. Funding was secured two years ago, an architect was selected, and the design approved. But the lease with SRNL is still pending. 'We had to get all the construction ducks in a row. I'm confident it's going to happen,' Bedenbaugh shared. The Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency is cutting leases, impacting the Savannah River Site. SRNL missed the January 2025 groundbreaking, and its logo is missing from the signage. 'Since the lease hasn't been finalized, we didn't want to put the cart before the horse,' he added. We asked if the City would work with universities if the SRNL lease isn't approved. 'I don't think that's gonna be necessary. With limited bandwidth and time, we're focused on what's going to happen, not speculative ideas,' Bedenbaugh said. City leaders believe SRNL is still part of the project, and talks are continuing as construction moves forward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
