OneSpartanburg, Inc. recently hosted a Work-Based Learning Signing Day event, in which Spartanburg County employers offer career development opportunities to local high school students. OneSpartanburg, Inc. photo 

‘Signing Day’ event expands work-based learning opportunities for local students

Spartanburg - OneSpartanburg, Inc. recently hosted a Work-Based Learning (WBL) Signing Day event, partnering with employers from across Spartanburg County to expand career development opportunities for local high school students.

Work-based learning programs—including internships, apprenticeships, co-ops, externships, and micro-internships—offer students valuable real-world experience while helping employers strengthen their talent pipelines. Studies show that 80% of companies view internships as the most effective tool for identifying future hires. In addition, employees who enter the workforce through a WBL program tend to have stronger retention rates over both one-and five-year periods.

Students benefit as well. Participation in WBL programs is linked to improved soft skills and an 85% higher likelihood of securing full-time employment after graduation.

Building Talent for Spartanburg’s Future

The goal of the 2026 WBL initiative is to place 600 Spartanburg County high school students in quality, hands-on roles with local employers. While opportunities are available across a range of industries, special focus is being placed on sectors with the greatest need: health care, hospitality, education, transportation and logistics, and local government.

“Work-based learning programs are a critical tool for Spartanburg to build a strong talent pipeline and nurture our future workforce,” said Ron Garner, chief talent officer at OneSpartanburg, Inc. 

“These programs allow employers to share essential knowledge and skills, while gaining access to candidates already familiar with their operations and workplace culture.”

A Commitment to Talent Development

At the event, employers signed the Spartanburg Talent Pledge, committing to offer high-quality, meaningful WBL experiences to upperclassmen during the summer of 2026. 

The pledge emphasizes competitive compensation when possible and encourages employers to view work-based learning as an ongoing investment in Spartanburg’s economic and workforce development.

Confirmed WBL Placements for Summer 2026

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System – 100 positions

Hospitality industry partners – Up to 100 positions

Spartanburg County School Districts – 70 positions (10 per district)

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport – Up to 50 positions

Municipal governments across Spartanburg County – 20 positions

Small businesses (via Power Up Spartanburg initiative) – Up to 100 positions

Spartanburg County Government – 100 positions

Spartanburg District Three ranked among top 15 in state of South Carolina 

Information compiled and edited by Bob Dailey 

Spartanburg - Spartanburg County School District Three has been named one of the 15 highest-performing public school districts in South Carolina, based on recent state assessment results.

Data from the 2024 SC READY and End-of-Course (EOC) exams show significant academic gains across grade levels. SC READY assessments, administered to students in grades 3 through 8, evaluate proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, science and social studies.

District Three posted some of the strongest results in the state.

English Language Arts: Third- and fifth-grade students ranked seventh statewide in ELA, placing in the top 10 overall and first among all districts in Spartanburg County.

Mathematics: Third-grade students earned the second-highest math scores in South Carolina, while fifth-graders ranked fourth statewide—both placing among the state’s top five and leading the county in performance.

At the high school level, Broome High School showed notable improvement in EOC assessments. The percentage of students scoring a C or better in Algebra I rose from 51.8% to 71.9% in one year. 

Scores in U.S. History and English 2 also exceeded state averages. The school’s graduation rate reached 89.5%, surpassing the statewide average of 86.4%.

These achievements contributed to District Three’s placement at No. 14 among 75 public school districts in South Carolina, according to SchoolDigger.com, a platform known for its analysis of school performance data.

College and career readiness metrics also improved. Students in the district earned 291 dual enrollment credits in 2025, more than doubling the previous year’s total of 129.

“Every child deserves access to a high-quality education,” said Superintendent Dr. Julie Fowler. “These gains reflect the hard work of our students, educators and families, and they affirm District Three’s position as a leader in academic growth and innovation.”

The district is also expanding its reach in career and technical education through Daniel Morgan Technology Center (DMTC), which serves students from Districts Three and Seven. DMTC recently introduced new programs in high-demand fields such as electric vehicle (EV) technology, artificial intelligence, pharmacy, phlebotomy, programming, and global logistics.

DMTC was selected by the South Carolina Department of Education as one of six statewide pilot sites for a new EV training program. Jeff Gibson, who will lead the initiative, helped design the state’s EV curriculum. 

Meanwhile, DMTC instructor David Thornton was the only educator appointed to the governor’s AI task force and played a key role in developing South Carolina’s AI education standards.

“Students at DMTC are receiving a world-class education—and South Carolina has noticed,” said Fowler. “By equipping students with real-world skills and direct industry connections, these programs open doors to careers that can pay up to $80,000 annually right after graduation. That’s how we begin to break the cycle of generational poverty.”

From strong academic performance to innovative workforce development initiatives, Spartanburg School District Three is setting a high standard for student success statewide. 

Convserse University expands support for veterans through Yellow Ribbon program 

Spartanburg - Converse University has joined the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program, strengthening its financial and academic support for veterans and military-connected students.

Through the initiative, Converse will cover up to $2,750 per year for as many as 20 undergraduate students whose tuition and fees exceed the maximum benefits covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs will match the university’s contribution, minimizing out-of-pocket costs for eligible students.

“This program ensures veterans receive the full educational benefit their service has earned them,” said Dr. Kala Hudson, Converse’s senior financial aid counselor and veteran benefits coordinator. “Veterans and military-connected students are an essential part of our campus. It’s an honor to support them through every stage of their university experience.”

Expanding Services Through Strategic Partnerships

Converse’s involvement in the Yellow Ribbon Program builds on recent growth in its support systems for nontraditional and veteran students. The university’s Converse II program for adult learners and veteran services have both benefited from philanthropic funding through the Movement 2030 initiative, led by the Spartanburg Academic Movement.

As one of 30 regional partners in Movement 2030, Converse is advancing efforts to improve economic mobility and career readiness through expanded access to education and student support.

National Recognition for Military Support

The university has also earned the Military Friendly® School designation at the Silver level for both the 2024–25 and 2025–26 academic years. The designation recognizes institutions that demonstrate a strong commitment to serving military-affiliated students both in the classroom and beyond graduation.

How to Apply for Yellow Ribbon Support

To qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program at Converse, students must meet eligibility criteria from both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the university.

For more information, prospective students are encouraged to contact the Converse Office of Financial Aid or visit the university’s veterans’ services webpage. 

The USC Upstate Crime Analysis Center recently received a grant from the Microsoft Community Safety and Justice Reform Initiative. USC Upstate photo 

USC Upstate Crime Analysis Center expands training with Microsoft grant

Spartanburg — The Upstate Crime Analysis Center at the University of South Carolina Upstate is launching a new initiative to enhance community-focused crime prevention, thanks to a grant from the Microsoft Community Safety and Justice Reform Initiative. The project, which runs from March 2025 through February 2026, is a collaboration with Microsoft and Simsi, a public safety technology company.

The initiative will offer free training and tools to help public safety professionals and community organizations apply evidence-based practices in crime prevention.

“This project not only strengthens UCAC’s role as a training hub, but also creates valuable learning and engagement opportunities for students, agencies, and local partners,” said Breanna Haney, director of UCAC and instructor of criminal justice, sociology, and women’s and gender studies at USC Upstate. “With the support of Microsoft and Simsi, we’re able to provide free resources that help make crime prevention more effective and more equitable.”

The center’s efforts will focus on expanding data capacity, piloting new technology solutions, and supporting the ethical use of artificial intelligence in public safety. Training materials and resources will be made available through Simsi’s Action-Hub Learning Center, a public platform powered by Microsoft Azure.

Topics will include career pathways for crime analysts, integrating analytics into agency operations, and a three-course series on crime analysis for police leadership.

UCAC will also host free webinars and in-person workshops open to law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and community groups. One of the key upcoming events is a full-day training workshop in Greenville, set for December 11, 2025, titled Data-Informed Community Engagement in Action: Collaborative Crime Prevention Training.

To further promote professional development, UCAC will sponsor one USC Upstate criminal justice student and a regional crime analyst to attend the Carolinas Crime Analysis Association Conference in March 2026.

In addition, students will take part in applied learning experiences tied to the initiative, including marketing and social media work for the December event.

The program supports UCAC’s mission to serve as a regional hub for evidence-based crime analysis, while strengthening collaboration among students, law enforcement, and the broader Upstate community.

Spartanburg Water team members remove more than 19,000 pounds from the watershed

Spartanburg - Nearly 200 Spartanburg Water employees collected over 19,000 pounds of trash during a two-day cleanup event at the utility’s three reservoirs — Lake Bowen, Lake Blalock and Reservoir #1 — and surrounding watershed areas.

Held Oct. 15–16, the cleanup involved more than 75% of Spartanburg Water’s workforce and marked the return of the event after a one-year pause due to Hurricane Helene.In total, employees filled about 275 large trash bags and removed bulky items including furniture, appliances, carpets, toilets, mattresses and televisions. Nearly 200 tires — enough for 50 vehicles — were also pulled from the watershed.

“Our team removed an incredible amount of trash from areas directly connected to our community’s drinking water supply,” said Spartanburg Water CEO Guy Boyle. “It’s discouraging to see waste dumped so carelessly, especially when there are free and low-cost disposal options available through Spartanburg County.”

Boyle pointed to the 17 recycling and waste sites throughout the county and the availability of landfill services as alternatives to illegal dumping.He added that education and awareness are key to long-term protection of local water resources. “Trash that isn’t properly disposed of almost always ends up in the watershed,” Boyle said. “That’s why public education is critical — so we can all be responsible stewards of our natural resources.”

The reservoir cleanup is part of Spartanburg Water’s broader commitment to environmental protection and watershed health, which also includes public outreach, sustainability initiatives and community partnerships. For more information or to get involved, visit them online at spartanburgwater.org.

Spartanburg Water, an industry leading utility, is comprised of Spartanburg Water System and Spar-tanburg Sanitary Sewer District. It serves a population of more than 200,000 within Spartanburg County, as well as others in parts of Greenville, Union and Cherokee counties. With the help of its dedicated team of almost 300 employees, each day it produces an average of 25 million gallons of drinking water and cleans 12 million gallons of reclaimed water for its customers and community.