AROUND CAYCE, SPRINGDALE & WEST COLUMBIA

Students of East Point Academy participated in the 10th annual Palmetto Chinese Star competition at USC Feb. 23. Students took home first, second and third place awards in the middle division and second and third place awards in the elementary division.

East Point Academy was also recognized with an “Outstanding Organization” award.

The Palmetto Chinese Star competition allows students in colleges and K-12 schools to compete in language proficiency and cultural performance.

Eleven East Point students competed. Other winners included second place winners Ivory Paavola, Mia Rodriguez, Cade Waters and Emily Zheng. Third place awards went to Kasiah Hart, Kendall Givens, Aria Le and Jadon Page. Kate Stover and Shelah Whitney were awarded honorable mentions.

Twenty-eight Lexington Two middle school students have been named South Carolina Junior Scholars. The program identifies 8th-graders with high scholastic achievement and intellectual ability.

Among the Junior Scholars announced in Lexington Two:

Busbee Creative Arts Academy: Anna Hoppock, Adrian Ibarra Alonso, Violet Kelly, Xzaiver Mathis

Fulmer Middle: Eleanor Autry, Isabella Brown, Sydney Evans, Abigail Fisher, Ethan Jeffcoat, Jacob Kaminski, Eliana Kyzer, Kaden Peteja, Kenneth Randolph, Bryson Vaughan, Tobias Welch

Northside Middle:  Casey Brightwell, Edith Brooks

Pine Ridge Middle: Lily Branton, Josh Lindner, Harley McIver, Caitlyn Miller, Margaret Petermann, Mark Ritchie, Mary Stewart, Raven Taylor, Ved Thakor, Amaiyah Walker, Gracyn Whitaker.