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HTC REEL Kids 2013

HTC is excited to work with Horry County Schools for the 13th consecutive year through a program that recognizes outstanding student accomplishments. HTC REEL Kids (Recognizing Extraordinary Examples of Leadership) is designed to showcase students in Horry County Schools, primary through high school, who have proven their leadership abilities through scholastic, athletic, and community achievements in the face of recent obstacles or extenuating circumstances. REEL Kids award recipients have endured physical disabilities, learning disabilities, behavior problems, difficult family circumstances and experienced the loss of loved ones. For example, there may be a student who has experienced the loss of a parent, but he/she continues to strive academically or remain active in the community. These students have overcome obstacles and now exhibit significant leadership qualities.

School counselors, with the assistance of principals and teachers, help HTC honor students from their schools by completing and submitting nominations.

HTC features each student and their story, along with a school representative, on RiverTalk. This show airs each Friday on HTC Digital Cable channel 4 at 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 7:00 PM, Monday through Saturday and weekday mornings at 7:30 AM on WWMB-CW-21, HTC Digital Cable channel 16.

In May, HTC hosts a recognition ceremony in honor of the HTC REEL Kids award recipients. Students, parents, teachers and guidance counselors are invited to celebrate together.

HTC is proud to support Horry County Schools through various resources and financial contributions. REEL Kids is another way for HTC to reach out to Horry County students to help them receive recognition from their peers, schools and families. If you have any questions regarding the REEL Kids Awards, please feel free to contact Nicole Hyman, HTC Senior Marketing Coordinator, at 369-8498.

HTC REEL Kids 2012

On Thursday, May 24, forty-nine Horry County Schools’ students were honored during the 12th Annual HTC REEL Kids Awards at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes.  These forty-nine students have proven themselves through scholastic, athletic and community achievements in the face of recent obstacles or extenuating circumstances and have been recognized by their schools as winners of the HTC REEL Kids (Recognizing
Extraordinary Examples of Leadership) award. 

An awards ceremony was held at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach on May 24th, to honor each student.  HTC invited Sean Swarner, first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest, to be the special guest speaker this year.  Sean Swarner has broken through defined human limitation in order to redefine the way the world views success.  Sean was diagnosed with two completely different types of cancer, once at the age of 13 and again at the age of 16 where he was given fourteen days to live and read his last rights. He astounded the medical community when he survived both these brutal diseases and a medical-induced coma.  Sean realized that after defeating cancer twice, no challenge would ever be too great or any peak too high.

Sean Swarner

All HTC REEL Kids received a copy of Sean Swarner’s book, Keep Climbing.  Prior to the special guest presentation by Sean Swarner, HTC awarded medals to each winner for their accomplishments.  The Meagan Conner Award and Taylor McKinney Award for Courage winners were also announced.

Read Sean Swarner's Bio >>

See the listings & photos of all the 2012 HTC REEL Kids by clicking on the links below:

Meagan Conner Award During the first season of HTC REEL Kids, Meagan Conner, Loris High School's REEL Kid, was battling cancer. It was a battle she lost just four months after the REEL Kids luncheon. Her story touched everyone that year and we continue to pay tribute to her life by honoring one REEL Kid each year with this award. A special committee selects one outstanding REEL Kid who made a lasting impression at the time of the interview, a REEL Kid who displays strong character, determination and perseverance. The objective of the Meagan Conner award is not to choose a student based on the severity of the obstacle, but rather the strength of their character, the degree of their determination, and the duration of their perseverance.

2012 Meagan Conner Award Winner - Shakiel White

Omega Phones Scholarship Once again, the owners of an outside company, Omega Phones, continued their support of our REEL Kids program – so much, that they again presented a check to be awarded to one senior REEL Kid based on perceived need for monetary assistance for higher education. The $2,000 scholarship was awarded to Amanda Hodge, a graduating senior from St. James High School.

2012 Omega Phones Scholarship Winner - Amanda Hodge

Since 2001, HTC has confirmed a local connection to the community by hosting the HTC REEL Kids program to honor students who may otherwise be overlooked.  These students are worthy of recognition for their outstanding leadership qualities that have helped them through special circumstances.  All schools in Horry County, grades primary through 12th, were encouraged to participate by nominating an extraordinary student, and for the tenth year, all Horry County Schools are represented.

“When we receive the nominations from the schools and read about the trials these young people have endured, we are humbled,” said Mike Hagg, HTC Chief Executive Officer.  “These REEL Kids have struggled through physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and loss of loved ones, disease, emotional problems, abuse, abandonment and so much more.  The most remarkable fact is that the REEL Kids have overcome what some would have seen as stumbling blocks.” 

The HTC REEL Kids program began in the fall of 2000 and was created to recognize one student per school who has overcome a significant obstacle in their life.  Guidance counselors were asked to nominate these students and one child from each school in Horry County was awarded the HTC REEL Kids award.  The nomination form also asked the counselor to describe how the nominee has proven him/herself through scholastic, athletic and community achievements in the face of obstacles or extenuating circumstances.  The guidance counselor and principal signed off on the information provided, and the parent/guardian gave permission for all personal and academic information to be released publicly by HTC in its efforts to recognize and describe award winners for this honor.   

As part of becoming an HTC REEL Kid, each child along with his/her teacher, principal or guidance counselor was interviewed for an HTC REEL Kids segmentthat airs each week during the local talk show, RiverTalk.  Each child’s inspiring story of overcoming adversity was shared during the interview. 

HTC is proud to help share these inspirational stories with the community. For more information concerning the HTC REEL Kids Awards, please contact Nicole Hyman, HTC Senior Marketing Coordinator, at 369-8498 or 902-3838.