AcademicsArtsAthletics&Activities

Achievement in Academics

  • Five seniors were named National Merit Semifinalists: Isabel Cook, Kristofer Crabtree, Gregory Voelkel, Nicolas Webster, Rachel Weissman.
  • Linda Trinh is a National Commended Scholar.
  • Gracie Barrineau scored a perfect 800 on the SAT Math Level 2 subject test. Several students achieved perfect scores on one or more portions of the ACT: Isabel Cook in English, Kristofer Crabtreeon Science, Sophie Kahleron the English, Samuel Sawyer in science, Jonathan Skarbek in Reading andNicolas Webster in English.
  • Gracie Barrineau is only student in the District to achieve Platinum status on the 2016 WorkKeys test.
  • 274 of our students took 506 AP exams in 2016. 71% of those exams were passed with a score of 3, 4 or 5, a percentage well above national, state and district averages.
  • Dreher's mean composite SAT scores (critical reading + math + writing) in 2016 rose eight points to 1485. Our composite SAT scores are above national, state and district averages.
  • Senior Gregory Voelkel received a full scholarship to Northwestern University as part of the Questbridge Scholarship program.
  • Seniors Christopher Alencar, Mary Grace Barrineau, Olivia McManus, Linda Trinh, Gregory Voelkel, Nicolas Webster, and Rachel Weissman earned the AP + PLTW Student Achievement in Engineering award based on their work in Advanced Placement (AP) science and math courses and advanced engineering courses.
  • Rachel Weissman received honorable mention in the “Aspirations in Computing” contest sponsored by NCWIT and IT-oLogy.
  • Forty-five students from all four grades took the AMC10/12 math competition exam.
  • Sophomore Amy Yao was among the top 5% of all finishers in the nation on the AMC 12 Math exam, designed for juniors and seniors. This qualified Amy to take the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME).
  • Senior Vinez Lydewas awarded the Stamps Presidential Scholarship to Georgia Tech University. This is a full-ride, plus many additional benefits, awarded to the top one percent of entering freshmen.
  • Senior Monique Berba was awarded an $180,000 scholarship by the US Marine Corps. She will study mechanical engineering at USC and will be commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from college.
  • Junior Jackson Reynoldsis among only ten students in the State to be invited to compete at the US National Chemistry Olympiad. Jackson qualified based upon his score at the local Chemistry Olympiad at USC.
  • The following seniors were honored by the District as Academic All-Stars and/or High School Scholars: Christopher Alencar, Gracie Barrineau, Tyler Belger, Willow Bugbee, ZuzannaChruszcz, Isabel Cook, Kris Crabtree, Malena Crawford, Deandre Davis, Ian Devlin, Reagan Fennessy, Rachel Friendly, Elise Germany, Gabriel Gonzalez, Lauren Greene, Jesse Guyton, Laura Nell Hudgins, Sophie Kahler, Many Nan Leath, Vinez Lyde, Riya Makharia, Jessica McFadden, Erin McFarland, Olivia McManus, Mitchell Mobley, Samuel Sawyer, Tucker Smoak, Anna Stone, Sarah Swan-Kloos, Joshua Taylor, Tierany Taylor, Sally Thames, Laurence Thompson, Linda Trinh, Greg Voelkel, Kendall Warther, Anna Watson, Nic Webster, Rachel Weissman, Hannah Williams, and Chelsea Wilson.

Achievement in the Arts

  • Junior Sophia Bulzoni had two photographs selected for the 2016 South Carolina Faces and Places Photography Exhibition at the Columbia Museum of Art and later to be displayed for one year in the Capitol Hill offices of Senator Lindsay Graham.
  • Rahul Bulusu, Everett Chapman, Kelsi Hallman, Grace Benson (alternate) and Lamont Grandmason (alternate) were named to the 2016 Region Orchestra for Grades 9-10.
  • Gabriel Gonzalez, ShayonGhoshroy and Matthew McKnight (alternate) were selected to the Region Orchestra for Grades 11-12.
  • Marching Band received a rating of Excellent at the 2016 River Bluff Swamp Classic. Parents of the band received an award for Best Pit Crew.
  • Thirty-eight of the fifty-seven students selected for the District Honor Chorus are from Dreher: Javia Belton,Monica Berba, Anna Boesl, Shekinah Campbell, Billie Claire Scott, Clavin Coombs, Jillian Dandridge, Susanna DaSilvio, Deandre Davis, Benjamin Eidson, Teddy Gadsden, Arteria Gibson, Jean Gonzalez Flores, Madeline Goodlett, Taylor Goodwin, Hassanna Greene, Latoya Hampton, Warren Hastie, Mona Henderson, Kezeah House, Ashlei Jones, Michelle McCarthy, Claire McConnell, Naderiah Mills, Megan Nordeen, Simone Papadakis, Dove Perryman, Isabelle Reidman, Jamel Reynolds, Jessica Roose, Christopher Smith, Joshua Taylor, Zaire Wardlaw, Nicholas Washington, Niya Williams, Caylee Wise, Juliette Woodin and Taujah Wright.
  • Four students were named to the SCMEA All-State chorus: seniors Deandre Davis, Jamel Reynolds, Christopher Smith and junior Ben Eidson.
  • Dreher students took many awards in the District Visual Literacy Festival for Photography. The Grand Prize winner was Sophia Bulzoni. Winning the Award for Creative Excellence and a $300 cash prize was Sam Sawyer. Placing in the category of Individual Black and White Photography were Honorable Mention - Sarah Swan Kloos and Eliza Cate; Third Place - Reagan Fennessy; Second Place - Sophie Bulzoni; and First Place, Samuel Sawyer. Grace Ann Hinnantwon first place for her Photo Essay. In Individual Color Photography, the winners were Honorable Mention - Clavin Coombs and Kamryn Lemon; Third Place, - Abree Jones and Devin Nealis; Second Place, Macie Leath and First Place, Sophie Bulzoni.
  • The Dreher Chorus was invited to sing for the second consecutive year at the Governor’s Carolighting Ceremony at the State House. Along with the chorus from IrmoHS, our singers performed at the Koger Center with the US Army Band. They finished up the holiday season with the Sandlapper Singers.
  • Senior Ian Devlin’s political cartoon was named “Best in Show” at the District Literacy Festival.
  • Junior Sophia Bulzoni was grand prize winner in the District Literacy Festival for photography. Senior Samuel Sawyer won the Award for Creative Excellence, which is accompanied by a $300 cash payment. Sam placed first in Individual Black and White Photography, Sophieplaced second, followed by Reagan Fennessy in third place. SarahSwan Kloos and Eliza Cate received Honorable Mention. For her Photo Essay, Grace Ann Hinnantwon first place. In individual color photography, Sophie won first place. Macie Leath came in second. Abree Jones and Devin Nealis placed third. Receiving Honorable Mention were Clavin Coombs and Kamryn Lemon.
  • Forty-eight Dreher students took chairs in the District Honor Band: KennedieFee,Kayla Clark, Matthew Lacoste, Daedrea Frierson, McKenzie Johnson, Gillian Ryan, Noah Benitez-Nelson, Hannah Gross, Everett Aguirre, Delaney Dunn, Sarah DaSilvio, Derina Webber, Kourtlyn Ellis, Kayla Morman, Kevin Belton, Christopher Smith, Gregory Bailey, Bed Eidson, Roland Herbkersman, Porter Burkett, Joseph Briggs, Coleman Edwards, Christopher Knox, Luke Smoak, Lee O'Neal, Gabriel Gonzalez, Logan Garrick, Carson Spencer, Alexander Vidal, Connor Wronski, Timothy Smith, Jujuan Jones, Gabe Jenkins, Gregory Ryan, Sterling Harris, Kristian Patterson, Marcus Moyd, Luke Lumpkin, Justice Burton, Joshua Brady, King Huggins, Jay Lesesne, Derreck Webber, Quinlan Dandridge, George Hanna, Jillian Dandridge, Micah Adams, RajathSivankoil.
  • First Chairs in District Honor Band went to eleven instrumentalists: Kennedie Fee, Noah Benitez-Nelson, Everett Aguirre, Christopher Smith, Ben Eidson, Luke Smoak, Timothy Smith, Sterling Harris, Luke Lumpkin, Derreck Webber and RajathSivankoil.
  • The following students earned chairs in various South Carolina Band Directors' Association (SCBDA) All-State and All-Region Bands:

2017 All-State Band:

Noah Benitez-Nelson-2nd chair Oboe, Luke Smoak-4th chair Trumpet, Ben Eidson-5th chair Alto Sax, Kennedie Fee-5th chair Flute

2017 All-State Jazz Band:

Ben Eidson-1st chair Tenor Sax, Delaney Dunn-1st chair Bass, Luke Smoak 10th chair Trumpet

2017 All-State Orchestra:

Noah Benitez-Nelson-2nd chair Oboe

2017 Region Clinic Band:

Hannah Gross-4th chair Oboe, Timothy Smith-6th chair Horn, Kayla Clark- A1 Flute

2017 Region Senior Band:

Christopher Smith-2nd chair Bass Clarinet, Everette Aguirre-9th chair Clarinet, Gabriel Gonzalez-10th chair Trumpet, Joshua Brady-12th chair Trumpet, Delaney Dunn-16th chair Clarinet, Sterling Harris-A1 Trombone.

  • AP art students Jesse Guyton, Emma Bliese, Christell Holmes, Sarah Swan Kloos, Olivia Harvey, Clavin Coombs and Odalys Trejo donated postcard size canvases to Artists for Africa. Over past three years, Dreher students have raised $2000 for this cause.
  • Sally Thames and Brice Hall were awarded scholarships at PDA/SCITS statewide competition and festival. Sally received the award for best Senior Thespian and won a Blair Beasley Scholarship. Brice also won a Blair Beasley Scholarship. Dreher's one-act play, Our Place, received a rating of Superior, the highest possible rating. Our Place also was recognized as the "Best Play Selection." Seniors Josh Taylor and Taylor Goodwin were rated Superior for their performances in Our Place. Brice Hall and Sally Thames were rated Excellent. Brice Hall's original one-act play, Oxygen In, Dioxide Out received second place in the original playwriting competition, with a rating of Excellent. Gus Burgess and Keke Jones were rated Superior for their performances in Oxygen In, Dioxide Out. Taylor Goodwin and Sally Thames were selected to perform in the Festival Showcase. Five Dreher students were rated Superior in Individual Events and will advance to the national competition: Taylor Goodwin - Solo Musical; Brice Hall – Monologue; Josh Taylor – Monologue; Sally Thames – Monologue; JessaPhilp - Stage Management.
  • Kelsi Hallman and Noah Benitez-Nelson were named to the All-State Orchestra.
  • Dreher’s Chorus, under the direction of Walter Graham, achieved the highest possible rating of “Superior with Distinction” at the SCMEA assessment.
  • Dreher’s concert band, under the direction of Dr. Chris Lee, achieved the highest possible rating of “Superior with Distinction” at the SCBDA assessment.
  • Dreher’s orchestra, under the direction of Jo Hanna, was rated “Superior” at the concert performance assessment.
  • Freshman Grace Benson won the Award for Creative Excellence in Book Production at the District’s Visual Literacy Festival. A check for $300 accompanies the award.

Athletic Achievements

  • JuniorJacory Pattersonwon the championship in the long jump at USATF National Junior Olympics, took second in the 200 meters, and finishedfourth in both the 100 meters and the triple jump.
  • Girls’ basketball coach Teresa Jones was named “District High School Coach of the Year.”
  • The 2015-2016 Girls soccer team was awarded the Team Academic Award (for a team GPA of 3.55) by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. This is the second year in a row the team achieved this honor.
  • Freshman Hayley Mason won three gold medals (200 free, 500 free and 200 free relay) and one bronze medal (400 free relay) at the AAAA State Swimming Championships. Senior Vinez Lyde won a gold for the 200 free relay and two bronzes: for the 100 back and the 400 free relay. Junior Eliza Cate won two medals: a gold for the 200 free relay and a bronze for the 400 free relay. The girls finished sixth overall. Top ten finishers among the boys were seniorSam Sawyer(8th in 100 breaststroke, 10th in 50 free) and sophomoreJack Wright(10th in 100 back).
  • Sam Sawyer and Jack Wright were named to The State newspaper’s all-area boys’ swim team.
  • Hayley Mason was named Midlands Swimmer of the Year by The State newspaper.
  • Sophomore Jordan Guyton finished fourth in the state in girls’ golf and was named to the All State Golf team and to The State newspaper’s all-area golf team. Jordan is Golfer of the Year in Region V.
  • Sophomore Kathleen Allden finished sixth in state in girls’ AAAA cross country. The girls’ cross country team finished fifth in AAAA state championships. Kathleen was named to the All-State team and to The State newspaper’s all-area team.
  • Senior Jaelynn Murray signed to play basketball at UNC Chapel Hill.
  • Jaelynn Murray was named “Player of the Year” by the SC Basketball Coaches Association and Midlands Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year for 2017.
  • Jaelynn Murray was selected as “SC Gatorade Player of the Year” in girls’ basketball.
  • SeniorsJaelynn Murray and Kamryn Lemon were nominated as McDonald’s All-American girls’ basketball players.
  • Jaelynn Murray and Ashleigh Cooke were honorable mention on The State newspaper’s all-area volleyball team.
  • The State newspaper named the following Dreher footballers to the all-area team: First team: Anthony Salters; second team: Jay Washington; honorable mention: Theo Goodwin.
  • Dreher is District Wrestling Champion. Individual winners were Rashid Carter, Theo Goodwin, DJ Jackson, Jujuan Jones, and Justyn Prince.
  • Rashid Carter and Ja’Quel Prince are Lower State wrestling champions. They are also on the All-Midlands Wrestling team.
  • Matthew Campbell signed with USC Lancaster to play baseball.
  • Eddie Mattocks signed with USC Salkehatchie to play baseball.

Outstanding Activities

  • Dreher’s bookkeeper Margaret Black was selected as “District Bookkeeper of the Year.”
  • NJROTC placed 1st in Squad Armed drill at the South Florence Pee Dee drill meet.
  • NJROTC placed 1st in Squad Unarmed drill at the North Augusta Riverfront drill meet.
  • The Robotics Team, Dreher Mechanics, allied with other teams to place first at the SCRIW competition hosted by Dreher.
  • Special Education teaching assistant Candace Jacobsis president and founder of the Sigma Alpha chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a national community service organization and was quoted in Jonquil, the organization’s magazine for members.
  • During Dreher’s first-ever One Day-One Dollar campaign in November, we collected just over $800 and over twenty-five boxes of non-perishable items for Harvest Hope.
  • Special Education teacherRebecca Smith-Hill is Dreher’s Teacher of the Year and custodian Adrian Rhett is our Classified Employee of the Year.
  • Dreher’s Mock Trial team under the direction of Robert Lominack finished fifth in State competition. Team members are Ashton Butler, Isabel Cook, Madeline Goodlet, Abigail Kahn, Madeline Petkevich, Martha Shaffer, Mary Frances Shavo, Charles Sophocleous, Leah Vazsonyi, Lila Walker.
  • Special Education students participated in the Special Olympics track meet and were cheered on by members of Club Give.