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Berkeley County Educators Complete Santee Cooper’s Energy Educators Institute Summer Session

Brandy Incorvia, Santee Cooper, Catherine Sullivan, Hanahan MS, Donna Butler, Hanahan MS, Kearney Gregory, Santee Cooper, Brittany Biggane, Hanahan MS, Mariel Saldutte, Hanahan MS, and Anna Strickland, Santee Cooper, during the Energy Educators Institute Friday, July 13, 2018 at Wampee. Paul Zoeller/Santee Cooper

MONCKS CORNER, S.C.— Santee Cooper provided twelve Berkeley County Educators with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in critical fields of the energy industry through its annual Energy Educators Institute at the Wampee Conference Center in Pinopolis.

“Personally, I made connections with wonderful teachers from all over the state. Intellectually, I learned more about energy than I ever dreamed, and that knowledge can be transferred to my students,” said Miriam Hood-Riley, a second and third grade teacher at AC Cocoran Elementary School.

Serving as the institute’s 33rd annual series, the 2018 session hosted 50 state educators who received certification following their participation in the week-long, graduate-level course. The participating teachers received classroom preparation materials and a better understanding about complex, energy-related topics, including the production, opportunities and challenges of renewable energy.

Santee Cooper held two sessions throughout the month of July. Both of the four-day institutes included trips through the lock at Jefferies Generating Station and visits to Old Santee Canal Park and Cross Generating Station.

Kearney Gregory, Santee Cooper, Brandy Incorvia, Santee Cooper, educators Keitha Williamson, Westview PS, Lynda Whiteside, Westview PS, Kacy Holland, Hanahan MS, Kerry Valdez, Timberland HS, Glenn Swilling, Cane Bay HS, Emily Ainsworth, Hanahan MS, Brittany Koors, Sangaree ES, and Anna Strickland, Santee Cooper, during the Energy Educators Institute Friday, July 13, 2018 at Wampee. Paul Zoeller/Santee Cooper

Throughout the week, teachers also participated in learning activities and unit planning sessions and connected directly with Santee Cooper experts on topics such as energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, environmental resources, power generation, transmission, distribution, electric safety, water quality and utility economics.

On what she gained from the institute, Kacy Holland, sixth grade teacher at Hanahan Middle School, said, “They were so appreciative of what we do that it gave me a renewed sense of pride in my profession.”

Also representing Berkeley County were Emily Ainsworth, Brittany Biggane, Donna Butler, and Catherine Sullivan of Hanahan Middle School, Keitha Williamson and Lynda S. Whiteside of Westview Primary School, and Katie Cellars, Brittany Koors, Mariel Saldutte, Glen Swilling, and Kerry Valdez of Orange Grove Charter School, Sangaree Elementary School, Hanahan High School, Cane Bay High School, and Timberland High School, respectively.

Teachers represented 16 South Carolina counties including Berkeley, Charleston, Chesterfield, Dorchester, Edgefield, Georgetown, Greenville, Horry, Lee, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, and York.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power provider, largest Green Power generator and the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper powers South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com.

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