NICHOLS NAMED OUTSTANDING TEACHER AT SALUDA HIGH
Amanda Nichols, Agricultural Education Instructor and FFA advisor at Saluda High School, has been named the Outstanding Teacher at the school for 2008, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization.
A native of Saluda County and a 2002 graduate of Clemson University with a BS Degree in Agricultural Education, Amanda is currently pursuing an MS Degree in Education from Southern Wesleyan University.
“In her six year tenure at Saluda High, she has coached two state winning Dairy Evaluation teams and one state champion Poultry Evaluation team, all of which have represented South Carolina in the National Finals held in conjunction with the National FFA Convention,” Parris said. “She has also coached one state FFA officer during this time,” he added.
Saluda FFA teams in forestry, equine science, tractor operation and safety, tool identification and others have consistently taken top honors in regional competition.
Thousands of dollars in college scholarships have been awarded Saluda FFA members by the Young Farmer and Agribusiness Chapter and other organizations.
A number of Saluda High FFA members have received the coveted State FFA Degree which is the highest award available to outstanding Agricultural Education students at the state level.
Saluda High School Principal Jimmy Crawford was awarded the prestigious Honorary State FFA Degree in 2007 in recognition of this outstanding support for the local Agricultural Education Program.
A vice president of the South Carolina Agricultural Educators Association, Amanda has been named the Outstanding New Teacher in the Mid-State Region and is in competition for state honors.
She serves as advisor to the Saluda County Young Farmer and Agribusiness Association as well as a member of the board of directors of the Saluda County Cattlemens Association and the Saluda County Forestry Association. She is also a member of the Saluda County Farm-City Committee.