Salute To Education – Thank You!
The Conway Chamber of Commerce’s Educational Programs Committee proudly hosted the 57th Annual Salute to Education Luncheon, celebrating outstanding graduating seniors and their inspirational teachers from the Conway area. The event, held at Horry Electric Cooperative, brought together students, educators, business leaders, and community supporters in recognition of academic excellence and leadership.
The Salute to Education Luncheon is an annual tradition that highlights the hard work and achievements of high school seniors in the Conway area. The event also honors the educators that play a crucial role in shaping the future of these young leaders. To qualify for the Salute to Education Scholarship, students must attend a Conway-area school or reside in Conway, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, and complete an application that includes essays, a photograph, an unofficial transcript, and a letter of recommendation from a school guidance counselor or principal.
The Salute to Education committee selected the finalists for the Outstanding Students based on academic achievements, leadership, and commitment to their communities. The 2025 Outstanding Student finalists were:
Margaret Collins – Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology
Jordan Pressley Courtney – Conway High School
Kali Gillespie – Conway High School
Aubrey Heinz – HCS Scholars Academy High School
Sophie Jackson – Conway High School
Khushi Patel – Aynor High School
Noah Reiss – Conway High School
Jonas Randle – Conway High School
Ashley Strickland – Conway Christian School
Ava Catherine Wells – Conway Christian School
The highlight of the event was the announcement of the 2025 Salute to Education Scholarship winner, Noah Reiss, a senior at Conway High School. Noah was selected from the outstanding student finalists for his academic achievements, leadership, and commitment to community service. As the recipient of the Salute to Education Scholarship, Noah will receive financial support toward his higher education endeavors.
This year’s special guest speaker was Shannon Detzler, President & CEO of the Horry-Georgetown Technical College Foundation. Her inspiring words resonated with students, educators, and business leaders, reinforcing the value of investing in the next generation of leaders.
This cherished event would not be possible without the generous support of local businesses and organizations. The Chamber extends its deepest appreciation to the sponsors of the 57th Annual Salute to Education Luncheon, including:
AFLAC-Tony B. Anderson, Sr.
Anderson Brothers Bank
Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union
Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors
Coastal Carolina University
Conway Air Conditioning
Cotton Country Doodles
Corning Credit Union
Dental Wellness Center
Diamond Shores LLC & Diamond Shores Realty
El Cerro Mexican Bar & Grill
Feldman & Melton Law Offices, LLC
H20 Excursions SC
Health Care Partners of South Carolina
Heritage Hauling
HTC
Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Horry Georgetown Technical College Foundation Inc.
Humana
Janet Carter
Jennifer Edwards Butler, DMD, PA
Kiwanis Club of Conway
Law Offices of Daniel Hunnicutt
Lawson Family Dentistry
Medicine Mart Pharmacy
Mister Sparky of Myrtle Beach
Peoples Underwriters, Inc.
Rivertown Credit
Rivertown Dental Care, Inc.
South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
SunCoast Building Products
The Conway National Bank
The Pearce Law Group, P.C.
The Ranking Company, Inc.
Twelve31 Media
Trusted Home Services
WMBF News-TV
We extend a special thank you to Backwoods Landscaping, Bojangles, Norman’s Cleaners, Fred Hoffman Photography, Margaret H. Geiger of Twelve31 Media, City of Conway Mayor Barbara Jo Blain, and Shannon Detzler of the HGTC Foundation for attributing to the success of this year’s program.
