'An awesome moment' for 8 students - Union Daily Times

May 08, 2019 at 07:01PM

Charles Warner | The Union Time Jenna Bright, a member of the Union County High School Cheerleading Team, signed with Anderson University during a signing ceremony Friday morning at the Union County Career and Technology Center. Attending the signing ceremony were her cousin, Kayley Jayne Addis; her mother, Tara Bright; and her brother, Caleb Bright.

Charles Warner | The Union Time Dayvonn Briggs, a member of the Union County High School Track Team signed with Emmanuel College during a signing ceremony Friday morning at the Union County Career and Technology Center. Attending the signing ceremony were his brother, Michael Guinn; his grandmother, Debbie Lancaster; his friend, Justyce Mcclintock; his sister, Jordan Aldrich; and his mother, Brandy Richards.

Charles Warner | The Union Time Union County High School students Trevon Hill, Makayla Dyer, and Zy Stewart all signed with the SC National Guard during a signing ceremony Friday morning at the Union County Career and Technology Center.

Charles Warner | The Union Time Peighton Berry, a member of the Union County High School Cheerleading Team, signed with Presbyterian College during a signing ceremony Friday morning at the Union County Career and Technology Center. Attending the ceremony were her grandfather, Gene Berry; grandmother, Susie Berry; and mother, Sandy Berry.

Charles Warner | The Union Time Bailey Long, a member of the Union County High School Soccer Team, signed with Converse College during a signing ceremony Friday morning at the Union County Career and Technology Center. Attending the ceremony were her brother, Patrick Long; her brother, Will Long; her mother, Donna Long; her father, James Long; and her brother, Charlie Long.

Charles Warner | The Union Time Chandler Northern, a member of the Union County High School Baseball Team, signed with USC Union during a signing ceremony Friday morning at the Union County Career and Technology Center. Attending the ceremony were family members Jerry Parks, Joan Parks, Emily Jordan, Camden Jordan, Parker Northern, Joy Parks, Paul Wells, and April Wells.

UNION COUNTY — The 2018-2019 school year has seen more than two dozen Union County High School students either sign with a college/university to continue their education while also continuing to play the sport they love or sign with the National Guard to get their education while serving their country.

Over the course of a roughly two-hour period on the morning of Friday, May 3, Room 600 of the Union County Career and Technology Center was the site of six signing ceremonies. The ceremonies, hosted by Union County School District Athletic Director Scott Sherbert, saw a total of eight students sign, five of them with the athletic programs of colleges/universities and three with the SC National Guard.

In addressing those attending Friday's ceremonies, Sherbert pointed out that, counting the students signing that morning, a total of 17 UCHS students had signed with college/university athletic programs while a total of 9 had signed with the SC National Guard during the current school year.

"That's pretty awesome in a school our size," Sherbert said.

As for Friday's signings, Sherbert said "this is an awesome moment where a kid gets the chance to continue their education doing something they love."

Student-Athletes

Of the five ceremonies that took place Friday, five were for students signing with the college/unversity they will be playing for in the sport they are currently playing at UCHS. As they are now at UCHS, they will be student-athletes where they will continue their athletic activities while also continuing their education.

Chandler Northern

The first signing ceremony was for Chandler Northern, a 1st Baseman with the Union County High School Baseball Team who signed with USC Union where he will be a member of the Bantams Baseball Team.

"It's just a great opportunity to go play ball," Northern said of his decision to sign with USC Union. "Somebody gives me a chance to play ball, that's all I've wanted to do."

Northern said he plans to major in Education at USC Union and that his career goal is to be a coach.

Dayvonn Briggs

The second signing ceremony was for Dayvonn Briggs, a member of the Union County High School Track Team, who signed with Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia, where he will be a member of the Lions Track Team.

"They offered me the best opportunity for track and school," Briggs said of his decision to sign with Emmanuel College.

Briggs said he plans to major in Graphic Design at Emmanuel.

Bailey Long

The third signing ceremony was for Bailey Long, a Midfielder with the Union County High School Soccer Team who signed with Converse College in Spartanburg where she will be a member of the Valkyries Soccer Team.

"It feels like home and they have a really good education program," Long said of her decision to sign with Converse College.

Long said she plans to major in Education at Converse.

Jenna Bright

The fourth signing ceremony was for Jenna Bright, a member of the Union County High School Cheerleading Team who signed with Anderson University in Anderson where she will be a member of the Trojans Cheerleading Team.

"I just think that on campus it feels like home," Bright said of her decision to sign with Anderson University. "People say that when it is right you know and I know."

Bright said she plans to major in Christian Studies with a focus in Missions at Anderson.

Peighton Berry

The fifth signing ceremony was for Peighton Berry, a member of the Union County High School Cheerleading Team who signed with Presbyterian College in Clinton where she will be a member of the Blue Hose Cheerleading Team.

"I love the campus," Berry said of her decision to sign with Presbyterian College. "My sisters go there so I can always have someone to talk to. Everybody is a family there."

Berry said she plans to major in Business and Marketing at Presbyterian.

National Guard

While each of the first five signing ceremonies were for the indidivual student that was signing, the sixth and final ceremony was a joing signing ceremony for three students who were signing with the SC National Guard. The students signing with the Guard were Trevon Hill, Makayla Dyer, and Zy Stewart. All three will serve in the Guard's MOS 91B Unit where they will be Wheeled Vehicle Mechanics.

In serving with the Guard, Hill, Dyer, and Stewart will receive financial assistance to get their college education and this was part of what motivated them to join.

Trevon Hill

Hill said he was signing with the Guard "to pay for my college and because my grandfather was an Army soldier."

As for his college education, Hill said he plans to attend Lander University where he will major in Mechanical Engineering.

Makayla Dyer

Dyer said she was signing with the Guard because "after my father passed away I needed assistance paying for college."

While she plans to attend USC Columbia, Dyer said she has not yet decided on a major.

Zy Stewart

Stewart said he was signing with the Guard "to pay for college and to start my life off the right way."

Lander University is where Stewart plans to go and major in Education.

SFC Brett Anthony, SC National Guard Recruiter at UCHS, said of the students who signed with the Guard Friday that "they saw a need, they saw this as a way to pay their way forward."

(The National Guard provides signees with $8,500 a year in tuition assistance plus pocket money and, is some cases, the student can also receive a $20,000 signing bonus.)

Capt. Kyle Pileggi, Alpha Company Commander Recruiting and Retention with the SC National Guard, also attended Friday's ceremony, and thanked the students "first and foremost for your willingness to join. Your commitment is priceless, you are commiting to your country and community and the people of Union County. You are setting yourself up for success now. You have selflessly decided to join something more than yourself. You're going to have doors opened to you that you could probably never have imagined."

Col. David Fowler of the SC National Guard also attended and told the students "you are joining a special organization. It is going to be challenging at times, it is going to be scary at times, but you will get through it." He added that "Union County is very supportive of its military. This community supports you, they've always got your back."

SC House of Representatives District 42 Representative Doug Gilliam also attended the signing ceremony and presented the students with a certificate of commendation from the SC House of Representatives in honor of their signing with the Guard. The certificate states the following:

In recognition and appreciation of your selfless service and patriotism by enlisting into the South Carolina Army National Guard, we commend you. Your sacrifice to serve is why our country enjoys the freedoms achieved by our forefathers. Your loyalty, duty and selfless service to our great state and nation is greatly appreciated. Your responsibility as a soldier will grow and we know you will meet that call with professionalism and pride.

Gilliam, himself a National Guardsman who prior to his election in 2018, oversaw the JROTC program at UCHS, pointed out that the students "are part of the one percent of the citizens that serve" in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. He said their willingness to make such sacrifices as required by military service makes them a part of the National Guard family that will always be there for them.

"You are joining a family," Gilliam said. "You never are without a family. We really take care of each other."

Charles Warner | The Union Time Dayvonn Briggs, a