FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2017
Contact: Karen Eliot, Communications Manager
keliot@cc.edu | 443-694-7308

**MEDIA ADVISORY**
Graduation Cookout Celebrates Early Support Success
Central College will host a graduation cookout on Saturday, May 13, from noon to 4 p.m. on the main mall to
celebrate the success of 85 high school seniors that participated in a long-distance remedial education program
called Early Support.
WHO: The five colleges who participated in Early Support - including Central College, the
University of South Carolina, Clemson University, the College of Charleston, and Costal
Carolina University - will host a cookout at Central College. The 85 graduating seniors who
participated in the pilot study will attend with their families. Governor Henry McMaster,
Sen. Sean M. Bennett, Sen. George E. “Chip” Campsen, III, and Rep. William Scott
Cogswell, Jr. have also accepted invitations to the fundraiser. Other legislators and aides
have been invited. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

WHAT: A catered, family-friendly cookout will be held on the main mall at Central College in
historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The cookout will celebrate the achievements
of 85 high school seniors from five local high schools. The event will double as a fundraiser
for Early Support as the colleges and high schools are eager to run the program again.
McMaster and Central College President Leon DeWitt will make speeches. Hugo Arias, one
of the students, will also speak about the impact of the program.
WHY: The pilot study of Early Support was conducted in 2016 and proved to be a great success.
The state economy has been struggling for a few years and budget cuts have started to
target higher education. More cuts could eliminate community programs like Early Support.
This cookout will raise money for Early Support and support for higher education.

WHEN: Saturday, May 13, 2017

Noon - 4 p.m.

WHERE: Central College

Main Mall
1001 Main St
Charleston, SC 29401

DETAILS: Admission is $5 per person or $15 per family. The money goes toward Early Support.The
cookout will be catered by Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ and the Smoking Pot. There will
be lawn games. Speeches will begin at 1 p.m. The entire community is encouraged to come
and celebrate the success of these local students. Learn more: www.cc.edu/earlysupport.
ATTENTION The media are invited to a press conference at 9 a.m. in the student union. DeWitt,
MEDIA: University of South Carolina President Harris Pastides, and College of Charleston President
Glenn F. McConnell will answer questions about the program itself and the fundraiser.
A representative from the South Carolina Educational Research Foundation will also be
available at the press conference.