Congratulations Class of 2012

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The Class of 2012 achieved much in their time at SDS, taking advantage of the numerous opportunities being a Griffin offers. Each is going on to new challenges at college or university next year. We wish them well.

Find out more about each of the 27 graduates by clicking on their names below.

Abby Danielle Adams

Abby Danielle Adams

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Attending: Samford University   

Scholarship offers: Furman University, Samford University.  Awards and recognitions: Drama Award. Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Jewelry Making, Art Study Tour in New York and Washington DC, French Cuisine and Youth in Government.  Mentorship: Occupational and Physical Therapy through Advanced Therapy Solutions with Shellye Godfrey.  Leadership: Student Government (treasurer, key committee), ASTRA Service Club (treasurer). Athletics: Captain of varsity cheerleading, tennis State Championship Team (captain). 

Music: piano.  Drama: All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Almost, Maine, and Steel Magnolias. Clubs and community service: ASTRA Service Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Kudzu Coalition.


 

Croisanna Eileen Allred

Criosanna Eileen Allred 

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Attending: Simmons College   

Scholarship offers: Simmons College (full scholarship), Converse College, Furman University, and Rollins College. Awards and recognitions: Mike Johnson Scholarship, Spirit of the Griffin Award, The Prudential Award, and The Regions Bank Award.  Special studies and programs:  Habitat for Humanity, History Through Film, Youth in Government, Clemson Calculus Challenge, and Envirothon Team.  Mentorship: Photography with Carroll Foster at Hot Eye Photography.  Leadership: President of the Environmental Club.  Community service: Habitat for Humanity.  Publications: Yearbook contributor, photographer for The Talon newspaper.  Athletics: Captain of the swimming team, recipient of the Coach's Award.  Other Accomplishments: Creation of an outdoor classroom involving the middle and lower schools.  Secured several recycling grants that allowed school to expand campus-wide recycling focus and efforts.



Samuel Warren Barker


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Samuel Warren Barker

Attending: Berklee College of Music    

Special studies and programs: Spanish in Costa Rica, Music Recording, Space Academy, Community Service.  Music: Senior musician of the year, Upper School Band: 1st chair in bass guitar, Jazz Band: 1st chair in guitar.

Neil Madhu Borad

Neil Madhu Borad

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Attending: The University of Southern California

Scholarship offers: Case-Western Reserve University, University of Rochester, and University of Southern California.  

Awards and recognitions: National Merit Commended Scholar, Rensselaer Polytechnic Award, Cum Laude Society.  Special studies and programs:  Marine Biology, Community Service, Art Study Tour in New York and Washington DC, Habitat for Humanity, Clemson Calculus Challenge, Clemson Declamations in Spanish, Youth in Government, Pawley's Island Leadership Conference, Furman Math Competition, and USC Math Competition.  Mentorship: Orthopedics with Dr. Sanchez at Orthopedic Specialties.  Leadership: Interact Service Club (treasurer).  Athletics: Tennis and track.  Music: Member of the Upper School Band, playing the clarinet.  Publications: Yearbook (sports layout designer), The Talon newspaper (writer).  Clubs and community service: Latin Club, Interact Service Club, Habitat for Humanity, volunteer service at Mary Black Hospital.


Wyatt Howard Dodson

Wyatt Howard Dodson

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Attending: Coastal Carolina

Scholarship offer: Charleston Southern

Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Fly Fishing and Stream Conservation, and Habitat for Humanity.  Leadership: Student Government.  Athletics: Basketball, cross-country, golf, and lacrosse.  Drama: Performed in the All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, The Case of the Prince Formerly Known as Hamlet, and Almost Maine.  Clubs and community service: Interact Service Club, Habitat for Humanity, and The Kudzu Coalition.


Keegan Patrick Duesterhaus

Keegan Patrick Duesterhaus

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Attending: McDaniel College (Honors)

Scholarship offers: McDaniel College Honors, Susquehanna University Honors, Arcadia University Honors FYSAE, Ursinus College, Dickinson College, College of Wooster, Roanoke College, Saint Michael's College. 

Awards and recognitions: Reecie Wilkes Award, Dent Athletic Award.  Special studies and programs: “Mythbusters,” Fencing, College Search, Youth in Government, Horizons, and an Internship with LS3P Neil Prince.  Mentorships: Architecture with McMillan Pazdan Smith and architect Doug Hurlbert.  Athletics: Co-captained the swim team and was a state qualifier (4 years), all-conference (2 years), and won state championships in the 200IM, 100MBreast, and 400Free Relay.  He was a cross-country state qualifier (3 years) and was the individual state runner-up.  In track and field, he was a state qualifier (3 years) and finished as the state runner-up in the 1600m.  Publications:  Writer for The Talon newspaper, Yearbook cover designer, and designer of the SDS arts calendar (2 years).  Clubs and community service: Habitat for Humanity.


Catherine Avery Elliott

Catherine Avery Elliott

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Attending: College of Charleston   

Awards and recognitions:  Daughters of the American Revolution Civic Award 

Special studies and programs: Jewelry Making, Art Study Tour in New York and Washington DC, French Cuisine, Environmental Studies, Youth in Government, French Declamation, and Envirothon Team.  Leadership: Student Government (historian), ASTRA Service Club (service chair).  Athletics: Co-captain of the swimming team and cross-country.  Drama: Performances in All I Really Need to Know I Learned In Kindergarten, Class Action, and Canterbury TalesPublications: Yearbook (co-editor) The Griffin literary magazine.  Clubs: Environmental Club, French Club, and Prom Committee.  Community Service: ASTRA Service Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters.


Darby Michelle Enright

Darby Michelle Enright

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Attending: University of South Carolina   

Scholarship offers: Samford University, University of South Carolina, and College of Charleston  

Special studies and programs: Habitat for Humanity, Youth in Government, Spanish Declamation.  Athletics: Cheerleading.  Clubs: ASTRA Service Club.  Community Service: Sidekicks, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Upward Cheerleading Coach, and Habitat for Humanity.


Bailey Rose Foster

Bailey Rose Foster

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Attending: College of Charleston 

Special studies and programs: Art Study Tour in Washington DC and New York City, Student Exchange with Gredos San Diego School (Madrid, Spain), Jewelry Making, and Youth in Government.  Leadership: Student Government (key committee).  Athletics: Soccer, track, and tennis state championship team.  Community service: Big Brothers Big Sisters, and ASTRA Service Club.

Mason Brandt Gillespie

Mason Brandt Gillespie

Attending: Wofford College

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Scholarship offers: Wofford College, University of South Carolina

Awards and recognitions: Ben Stone Fellows Scholarship Recipient, National Merit Semifinalist, Palmetto Fellow Scholarship.  Special studies and programs: Culture and History in England, Youth In Government (Supreme Court Justice as a senior), and Clemson Calculus Challenge.  Athletics: Co-captained the swim team and was the state runner-up in the 200Free and part of the 400Free relay state championship team.  He also ran cross-country, and track and field.  Community Service: Ben Stone Fellows Community Service Projects.

James Kenan Hamilton

James Kenan Hamilton

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Attending: Hampden-Sydney College

Scholarship offer: Hampden-Sydney College

Awards and recognition: Dent Athletic Award.  Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Creative Writing, College Search, History Through Film, Youth in Government.  Mentorships: Junior Leadership Spartanburg.  Clubs and community service:  Interact Service Club, Kudzu Coalition.  Athletics: Co-captained the boys’ basketball team and scored 1,000 career points, was all-region, all-tournament, and all-state.  He was the state champion in the 100m dash in track and field.  He was also a member of the soccer team (2 years).

John Wilson Hammond

John Wilson Hammond

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Attending: Presbyterian College   

Scholarship offer: Presbyterian College  

Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Fly Fishing and Stream Conservation, and History Through Film.  Leadership: Interact Service Club (vice-president).  Athletics: Lacrosse, swimming-1st in state in relay, State Championship Team, baseball, and golf.  Drama: The case of the Prince Formerly Known as Hamlet, Almost, Maine, and Everything I Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  Community Service:  Soup Kitchen, The Kudzu Coalition.


Adelaine Brooks Hogan

Adelaine Brooks Hogan

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Attending: College of Charleston 

Scholarship offers: Loyola University, College of Charleston.

Special studies and programs: Jewelry Making, Creative Writing, Writing Children's Books, and Youth in Government.  Athletics: Soccer and field hockey.  Drama: Canterbury Tales: Chaucer's Flying Circus, Class Action, All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, and Almost, Maine.

Community Service: Kudzu Coalition, Habitat for Humanity.


Louis Hampton Ike

Louis Hampton Ike

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Attending: Washington and Lee University

Scholarship offers: University of Georgia, Wofford College

Awards and recognitions: Cum Laude Society, American Legion Award, Forensics Award.  Special studies and programs:  Art Study Tour in New York and Washington DCMarine Biology, History Through Film, Youth in Government, Clemson Calculus Challenge.  Mentorships: Public Service internship with Congressman Trey Gowdy.  Leadership: Student Government (key committee and treasurer).  Athletics: Co-captained the boys’ basketball team and played on the golf team.  Drama: Extra in The Case of the Prince Formerly Known as HamletClubs and community service:  Interact Service Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Celia Elizabeth Jeffords

Celia Elizabeth Jeffords

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Attending: University of Virginia

Scholarship offers: Rhodes College, Wofford College

Awards and recognitions: Dent Athletic Award.  Special studies and programs: Habitat for Humanity, Art Study Tour in New York and Washington DC, Student Exchange with Gredos San Diego School (Madrid, Spain), Marine Biology, and Youth in Government.  Mentorships: Journalism with Buck Buchheit at Hometown News.  Leadership: Student Government (class president and class vice president).  Athletics: All-region and all-state selection for the state champion girls’ tennis team.  All-region for the girls’ basketball team, Soccer team, and state qualifier for the swim team.  Drama: All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  Publications: Writer and editor for The Talon newspaper.  Clubs and community service: ASTRA Service Club, Sidekicks, Habitat for Humanity, and Kudzu Coalition.


Ruoyo Jiang

Ruoyu Jiang

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Attending: Georgia Technical College

Scholarship offers: Georgia Technical College, University of California, Davis

Awards and recognitions: Cum Laude Society, Finkelstein Physics Award.  Special studies and programs: Space Academy, French Cuisine, Clemson Calculus Challenge.  Athletics: Tennis.  Music: Violin.  Drama: Almost, Maine.

Yiru Ma

Yiru Ma

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Attending: Boston University

Scholarship offers: Michigan State, University of Massachusetts

Awards and recognitions: Rhode Island School of Design Studio Art Award, Permanent Collection Award, Davison Math Award.  Special studies and programs: Habitat for Humanity, Low Country Ecology Study, Clemson Calculus Challenge, Envirothon Team.  Athletics: Volleyball, track and field.  Drama: Almost, MaineClubs and community service: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sidekicks, Habitat for Humanity.

John Patrick McBride

John Patrick McBride

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Attending: Washington and Lee University

Scholarship offer: Northeastern University

Awards and recognition: Groblewski Cup Leadership Award, Philosophy Award, Psychology Award, Linda Hudgins Art History Scholar Award.  Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Low Country Ecology Study, Art Study Tour in New York and Washington DC, and Youth in Government.  Leadership: Student Government (class president and student-body president).  Athletics: All-state in cross-country, all-region in basketball and played on the baseball team.  Drama: Canterbury Tales, Chaucer's Flying Circus, Class Action, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, The Case of the Prince Formerly Known as Hamlet, and Almost, Maine.  Clubs and community service: Interact Service Club, Kudzu Coalition, Total Ministries, Children's Shelter, Mobile Meals.

Addison Reece Murff

Addison Reece Murff

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Attending: Presbyterian College  

Scholarship offer: Presbyterian College

Special studies and programs: Marine Biology and Community Service.  Athletics: Soccer and Lacrosse.  Clubs: Interact Service Club.  Community Service: Kudzu Coalition, Total Ministries, and the Children's Shelter.


Shelby Victoria Nelson

Shelby Victoria Nelson

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Attending: University of St. Andrews, Scotland 

Scholarship offers: University of South Carolina, Wofford College, University of Miami, and American University.

Awards and recognitions: Ben Stone Fellows, Class of ’75 Spirit Award, Jack Bray French Award.

Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Creative Writing, College Search, Language, Culture, and Art Study in Spain, Youth in Government (as legislature and attorney).

Mentorship: Orthodontics with Dr. Steve Smiley at Smiley Orthodontics.  Leadership: Student Government (key committee and secretary), ASTRA Service Club (secretary).  Athletics: Soccer.

Drama:  All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten, The Case of the Prince Formerly Known as Hamlet and Almost, Maine.  Clubs and community service:  ASTRA Service Club (secretary), Ben Stone Fellows Volunteer Projects, Soup Kitchen, Mobile Meals, St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic, Kudzu Coalition, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Allison Elizabeth Pennington

Allison Elizabeth Pennington

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VALEDICTORIAN

Attending: Wake Forest University 

Scholarship offers: Wofford College, Furman University.  

Awards and recognitions: Cum Laude Society, Vanderbilt Book Award, Wofford Scholar, Furman Scholar, ALTRUSA Civic Award, Big Brothers Big Sisters Service Award.

Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Art Study Tour in Washington, DC and New Your City, French Cuisine, Environmental Studies, Envirothon Team, and Youth in Government.  Mentorship: Law at Thompson Law Firm with Attorney Jim Thompson.  Leadership: Student Government (key committee, secretary, vice president), Honor Council, ASTRA Service Club (president), Junior Leadership Spartanburg, SDS Strategic Planning Committee (student representative).  Athletics: Cheerleading.  Drama: Crew for Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Almost, Maine, and Steel Magnolia. Publications: Yearbook (staff co-editor). 

Clubs and community service: Environmental Club, Cooking Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Sidekicks.


Lindsay Leigh Shanor

Lindsay Leigh Shanor

Attending: Presbyterian Col

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lege or Clemson University



 

Jay Spencer Shelley, Jr.

Jay Spencer Shelley, Jr.

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Attending: Presbyterian College    

Scholarship offers: Presbyterian College 

Special studies and programs: Archeology in South Carolina, Fly Fishing and Stream Conservation, Community Service, Environmental Studies.  Mentorship: Manufacturing with Bill Young at Tandematic.  Athletics: Golf (coaches award).  Clubs and community service: Interact Service Club, Kudzu Coalition, Habitat for Humanity, Soup Kitchen, Mobile Meals, Children's Shelter.


Sarah Latane Spencer

Sarah Latane´ Spencer

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Attending: University of Virginia 

Scholarship offers: Rhodes College

Awards and recognitions: National Merit Commended Scholar, Cum Laude Society, Johnson History Award, Donnelly English Award, Wellesley Book Award.  Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Physics of Rollercoasters, Language, Culture and Art Study in Spain, Art Study Tour in Washington DC and New York City, Clemson Calculus Challenge, and Youth in Government.  Leadership: Student Government (president of freshman class), Honor Council.  Athletics: Basketball (3 coach's awards), soccer, and tennis.  Drama: The Case of the Prince, Formerly Known as Hamlet.  Publications: The Talon newspaper (assistant editor and senior editor).  Clubs and community service: Cooking Club, Environmental Club, ASTRA Service Club.


Ellison Caroline Starnes

Ellison Caroline Starnes

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Attending: Wofford College

Scholarship offer: Wofford College (Bonner Scholarship)

Awards and recognitions: Ben Stone Fellows Scholarship Recipient

Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Art Study Tour in New York and Washington DC, Art and Literature Study in London, Youth in Government, Envirothon Team.  Leadership: Student Government (student body vice president), ASTRA Service Club (vice president), Honor Council.  Athletics: Field hockey, track and field, cross-country, cheerleading, golf, and soccer.  Drama: Canterbury Tales, Chaucer's Flying Circus, Class Action, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, Almost, Maine, and Steel Magnolias.  Publications: Yearbook (assistant editor).  Clubs and community service: ASTRA Service Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sidekicks, Tutoring, and Ben Stone Fellows Community Service Projects.


Lindsay Feldmann Stephens

Lindsay Feldmann Stephens

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Attending: Wofford College  

Scholarship offers: Wofford College, Presbyterian College, and Oglethorpe University.

Special studies and programs: Space Academy, Art, and Literature Study in London, Youth in Government.  Leadership: Student Government (key committee).  Athletics:  Soccer and cheerleading.  Publications: Yearbook (co-editor).  Drama: Crew member.  Community service: Big Brothers Big Sisters, ASTRA Service Club.


Catherine Eve Tisdale

Catherine Eve Tisdale

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Attending: Wofford College 

Scholarship offers: Clemson Honors College, Wofford College, Birmingham-Southern College.  Awards and recognitions: Ben Stone Fellow Scholar, Cum Laude Society, Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, Palmer Science Award, Wofford Scholar, Palmetto Fellows Scholar, Upper School Service Award.  Special studies and programs: Marine Biology, Environmental Studies, Writing Children's Books, Art and Literature Study in London, Youth in Government, Clemson Declamation.  Mentorship: Orthopedics with Dr. Sanchez at Orthopedic Specialties.  Leadership: ASTRA Service Club.  Athletics: Volleyball - All-Area Academic, Team MVP, All-Region, All-State, second Team All-Area, North-South All Star Selection.  Publications: Yearbook (co-editor).  Clubs and community service: ASTRA Service Club (programs chair), Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sidekicks, Soup Kitchen, TOTAL Ministries, St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic, Mobile Meals, Kudzu Coalition.