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For more information, contact Barb Steadman - 843.857.4199

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Oct. 23, 2012 – Now in its second year, PULSE’s (Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic Excellence) Accelerated Learning Opportunities (ALO) program for high school students in Hartsville is serving more students in more ways.

“When we first began offering ALO courses at Coker, seven students interested in voice instruction were accepted into the program,” said Serena Hill-LaRoche, assistant professor of music and Coker College PULSE coordinator. “Now, we have sixteen bright and enthusiastic high school students who are enrolled in a variety of ALO courses.”

“We’ve entered the second year of the PULSE partnership confident that this unique collaboration is making a positive impact on education in the Hartsville community,” said Executive Director of the TEACH Foundation Sharman Poplava.

"The TEACH Foundation administers $5 million funding for PULSE through a five-year grant from the Sonoco Foundation. The collaborative involvement of the Darlington County School District, South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, Coker College and Sonoco has raised the bar for academic excellence in Hartsville.”

This semester’s ALO students are enrolled in classes in dance, piano and vocal studies.

“This is my first year taking ALO classes at Coker, and I am loving it,” said Hartsville High School student Mary Cline McKnight, age 14. “My professor is tough, but I’m learning more every class. I feel as though he is really helping me become well-prepared for my college years. I would definitely recommend this program to any student wanting to pursue a liberal arts education.”

“Watching these students grow academically and as young adults through this program has been the most rewarding experience thus far,” said Hill-LaRoache. “Reaching out to local schools and bringing the students here on the Coker College campus for a college-level experience is proving to be a successful way of preparing them for that difficult transition from high school to higher education.”

Several students enrolled in the program will have their first public performance of the semester alongside other Coker students during the annual fall student recital. The recital, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Hannah Lide Coker Recital Hall on the campus of Coker College.

The next public performance for the ALO students will be the spring student recital, which will take place at 3 p.m. May 5 in the Coker College Drawing Room.

For more information about PULSE and ALO, visit www.teachfoundation.org or call 843-917-0026.

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