Ten Lexington Two Innovation Center seniors celebrated their signing day by signing contracts to enter the workforce with different companies after their graduation this year.

Luke Boozer, Octavio Martinez-Montes, and Gared Aguirre-Santos signed with Zeus Industrial Products, Naashon Fosu and Miguel Jimenez signed with Michelin Tires and  Josh Walker and Rahsann Dow signed with No Grease Barbershop.

Students Dylan Morey, Daniel Samayoa and Justin Linden signed with On The Road Again, Fogle and Sons Electric, and Central Controls Inc. respectively, according to the press release.

Because of the Lexington Two Innovation Center, all students are ready to enter the workforce or special training programs relating to their company immediately after their graduation.

“Our students get to start their careers right out of high school and apply their skills and competencies learned to work immediately.  We get to do our part to help our business partners fill vacancies in their companies,” director of the Lexington Two Innovation Center Joni Coleman said in the press release.

The event was attended by prospective employers, Innovation Center students, family members and faculty and staff.

Companies that attended the event said that the Innovation Center was important because they provide more workers for the community.

“The Innovation Center has given us the opportunity to recruit, engage, and educate the next generation of machinists and maintenance technicians,” Zeus human resource manager April Donley-Chesser said in the press release.

Lexington Medical Center celebrates 30th anniversary of doula program

Lexington Medical Center is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of their doula program. Since the program’s start, more than 12,100 babies have been born with the assistance of doulas at the hospital.

A doula provides physical, emotional and educational help to mothers in labor. They are a free, first-come first-serve service offered at Lexington Medical Center.

“Our award-winning, state-of-the-art Birth Center welcomes more than 4,000 babies each year, many whose mothers have used doulas to help welcome their child. We are proud of our doulas who have helped play a role in supporting thousands of women and families during one of the most important times of their lives,” director of nursing at Lexington Medical Center Kelly Cutter said in the press release.

The hospital employs 25 doulas, all of whom are ready to help laboring mothers who want their service.

All of the doulas on staff are trained healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable in the physiology of birth, the emotional needs of women in labor, facilitating communication between parents-to-be and helping prepare and implement birth plans.

Saluda Shoals park opens new trail

The Saluda Shoals Foundation opened a new TRACK trail at Saluda Shoals Park on April 25 in partnership with Kids in Parks, the Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission and Dominion Energy.

The trail is funded through an Environmental Stewardship Grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and the ultimate goal of the TRACK trail is to help children learn more about the outdoors.

“With each of our TRACK Trails, we hope to engage children in the joys of outdoor exploration. Our ultimate goal is to help families fall in love with nature, helping them realize the value our parks and public lands hold for their lives,” Jason Uroz, director for Kids in Parks said in the press release.

The TRACK trail at Saluda Shoals will feature several different self-guided activities including Nature Hide & Seek which provides a checklist for things commonly missed in nature and Flower Power which teaches those on the trail about how different flower qualities such as size and color attract pollinators.

Saluda Shoals Park Director Lindsay Hudson said in the press release that “these new materials for children will provide wonderful opportunities to learn more about nature and the wildlife found at the park.”

Irmo High School students excel at consumer challenge

Irmo High School students recently represented the state of South Carolina at the 30th Annual LifeSmarts National Consumer Challenge in San Diego, Calif. from April 18 through April 21.

The team was one of 47 selected nationwide to compete because of their dedication, knowledge and teamwork, the press release read. 

Students Graham Matheny, Joseph Folding, Matthew Blocker, Jayden Widmer and Jerrado Frazier were coached by Tari Watson and Jeremy McMichael and tested their knowledge in several rounds against other teams from across the country.

Coach Tari Watson said in the press release that they love to connect classroom learning with real-life experiences.

“Helping students to connect classroom knowledge in real-life situations is one of my favorite parts of LifeSmarts. I also enjoy helping to give students opportunities to travel across the country and have new experiences that will last a lifetime,” Watson said.

The team was also honored as a LifeSparks team. This honor is awarded to teams who were exemplary participants and who showed a commitment to promoting consumer literacy and essential life skills, the press release read.

The team’s focus now is on qualifying for next year’s championship in Chicago.

Midlands Rivers Coalition begins water monitoring season

The Midlands Rivers Coalition has begun its eighth straight year of monitoring the water quality of three major rivers in Columbia.

The coalition is collecting samples from 11 different spots along the Lower Saluda, Broad and Congaree rivers during the months of May, June, July, August and September.

Samples are collected each Wednesday with results being posted every Thursday on the website HowsMySCRiver.org. The goal of monitoring the water is to provide river users with water quality data and issue swimming advisories if the sample does not meet the state standard for contact recreation, according to the press release.