The Cayce-West Columbia Chamber had to postpone it’s January award presentation for Student and Educator of the Quarter Awards. So Chamber representatives visited two Lexington Two schools in person to present their awards. Chamber reps will also visit Gray Collegiate Academy on Monday, and the Lexington Four School District.

Lexington District Two Student Award winner Student of the Quarter: Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Carolina Redmond-Murillo is an exceptional student at Airport High School whose academic excellence, leadership, and service set her apart. She is enrolled in rigorous Honors and Dual Enrollment classes and is currently ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2026. She serves as Senior Class President and is a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, STEM Club, and the TRIOS program. She is also the commander of the award-winning JROTC drill team at Airport. It’s as a member of the JROTC that Carolina was recently awarded the prestigious Legion of Valor Bronze Cross, an elite recognition that is given to outstanding high school or college ROTC and Junior ROTC cadets. The award is presented by the Legion of Valor of the United States of America, a fraternal organization for recipients of the nation’s highest honors for heroism, including the Congressional Medal of Honor and Service Crosses. According to the Legion of Valor, of the more than 300,000 estimated cadets nationwide, fewer than 30 are selected for the annual award – and Carolina is one of those 30. The Airport High School drill team has just recently advanced to the National High School Drill Team Championship, led by Carolina. The students will be representing Airport High School in Daytona, FL in May.

Lexington District Two Teacher Award winner

Educator of the Quarter: Catherine Quarles is a second grade teacher at Riverbank Elementary. And, while we mostly see veteran teachers at these breakfasts, Catherine is a new teacher, a graduate of the University of South Carolina who has been with Lexington School District Two for one year. Her classroom philosophy focuses on helping students grow and learn in an environment where they feel understood, supported, and valued as individuals. Catherine is the district’s current Rookie Teacher of the Year, and we are thrilled that she was selected as one of 5 finalists in the state for Induction Teacher of the Year by the South Carolina Association for Teaching, Leading, and Learning. Over the past 3 years, Lexington Two’s Rookie Teachers of the Year have been selected all 3 years as a top 5 finalist in the state.