STEM Camps - Inventing the Future

About a dozen students from Sumter County recently completed a week-long STEM camp for girls learning about robots and electricity, "sparking" their interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. The camp was held at the Sumter Career and Technology Center and included team building and hands-on STEM activities. "The goal is to inspire young ladies to pursue STEM careers, a field which women traditionally did not pursue in the past," camp leader and mechatronics instructor Wendy Jacobs told parents on presentation day. Honda employees from the plant in Timmonsville assisted with the camp.

Students from Doby’s Mill Elementary in Kershaw County participated in a two-day STEM camp learning to engineer their own bubble wands. Instructor Amanda Raper led the students through observing standard bubbles from pre-made wands, sketching and building their own designs with pipe cleaners and straws, and testing and refining their creations. This activity teaches them the basics of engineering design -- ask, imagine, plan, create, improve – along with principles of science, all while making STEM fun.

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If you would like additional information regarding STEM camps in the Santee-Lynches Region, please contact Brenda Golden, Regional Workforce Adviser at 803-651-1893.

Work Based Rental Assistance Program

The Sumter County Regional HOME Consortium has developed, in partnership with Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments and SC Works, a workforce development-focused Rental Assistance Program. For more information, see the program brochure below or contact Ms. Stacy Newman at Phone: 803-774-1987 or Email: snewman@slcog.org.

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Opening of Lee County Farmers Market

The opening of the Lee County Farmers Market last Friday June 17, 2016 was a blessing for the citizens of Lee County especially the Seniors. The opening of the Market will allow our seniors to receive vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables in Lee County. The Farmers Market is located at 220 E. Church Street Bishopville, SC 29010 and will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 am - 2:00 pm. I know everyone will join us in thanking the Department of Social Services and the State Office for including Lee County in their expansion.

Celebrating Fathers in the Park

Brenda Cooper, Customer Services Representative for SC Works, attended Fathers in the Park, a local event to inform fathers about available services. Brenda shared information about SC Works and the role they play in work readiness and employability enhancements. Thank you to Brenda and everyone who helped make Fathers in the Park a great success! For more information about SC Works or Workforce Development at the COG, contact Brenda Cooper at 803-774-1314.

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Annual Nutrition Training

The Health and Human Services Department along with Senior Catering held Annual Nutrition Training on June 10, 2016. The training was a success!!! We look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Housing and Job Fair

In observance of home ownership month, join us at the South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave on Saturday, June 25, 2016 from 10AM - 2PM.

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Hope to see you there!

Staff Spotlight

Your name: Michael Allen Heishman

Tell us a little bit about your personal life. Married for the first (and only) time to my lovely wife Beth in June 2012, moved to Sumter that same month from Richmond, VA.

Favorite Book: The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk

Favorite Album: (tie) Amused to Death by Roger Waters and The Division Bell by Pink Floyd

Favorite Movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Football Team: Pro, Washington Redskins, College, West Virginia Mountaineers

When did you start working at the COG? November 2015

What is your current position? Operations Manager – SC Works

Sum up your job in one sentence. Provide innovative concepts and a vision for meeting the needs of the region's workforce population.

Have you held any other positions within the COG? No

What is the project, program, activity or event that you are proudest of? The Lee County Job Fair, March 2016

What COG related project, program, activity, or event are you most looking forward to? The Sumter County Job Fair, May 2016