NEWBERRY — The Rotary Club of Newberry recognized the high school students of the month at its Friday meeting. All of the students are seniors.
Newberry County Career Center
Matthew Hawkins was recognized for his academic and athletic commitment. Hawkins currently has a 3.5 grade point average in addition to playing varsity football and baseball in high school. During his senior year, he was quarterback.
Hawkins has been a Beta Club member throughout high school and was recently inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. He has a year of CAD and is currently taking CAD II.
He also involved with his youth group at St. Luke Lutheran Church and plans to attend the University of South Carolina for mechanical engineering.
Whitmire Community
Jared Wicker was honored for his athletics and academic progress. Wicker attended Palmetto Boys State last year and was recently inducted into the Newberry Technical Honor Society.
In addition, he is a region champion in wrestling and also all county football. He plans to attend Piedmont Technical College and transfer to a four-year school where he wants to study social studies and athletic training.
Mid-Carolina High School
Yareli Mitchell was honored for her medical terminology and skill. Mitchell also attended RYLA last year, which is the Rotary Club’s youth leadership retreat held every year. She is in the top five of her class at Mid-Carolina and is academically prepared, according to the assistant principal Steve Wicker.
Newberry High School
Leann Purcell was recognized for her well rounded appeal in school.
Purcell is in Senior Beta Club and is a National Honor student. She is also a YMCA coach for soccer and is captain on the school’s varsity swim team. She attended Palmetto Girls State last year , was Miss Newberry High and was homecoming queen during her senior year.
She enjoys volunteering with the children’s puppet theater at her church and with Salkehatchie summer camp. She wants to be a physical therapist and plans to attend the University of South Carolina for exercise science.


















