The Fellowship of Christian Athletes: Empowering athletes through the Christian faith

In the year 1954, a ministry was born. Four men who were simply having a meeting had no idea what this decision was going to mean to athletes across the globe in years to come. Don McClanen was touched by God and was determined to take that inspiration and put it into action. With that determination, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) was born. [See the FCA Timeline for more information about the birth and development of this organization].

The 'Founding Fathers' of FCA
From left to right: Dr. Louis Evans, Dr. Roe Johnston, Don McClanen, Branch Rickey
courtesy of www.timeline.fca.org

Throughout the years, FCA has grown into a worldwide organization that is "serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ." (FCA Mission statement). The organization achieves this goal in various ways. 

FCA has created what they call, "The Four C's of Ministry." Right away we can see how this helps FCA stand out amongst other ministries. The four C's include: Coaches Ministry, Campus Ministry, Camp Ministry and Community Ministry. Each ministry seeks to empower coaches and athletes through bible studies, support groups, spiritual training and various other outlets all in the hope to instill a stronger religion through athletics. 

Illustration of the "Four C's of Ministry"
courtesy of http://bigcountryfca.org/mission-vision

College of Charleston FCA Huddle enjoys a
night out to share a meal and scripture
before the Thanksgiving holiday

Bringing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to middle schools, high schools, and college campuses across the nation has sparked what FCA calls "Huddles." The best way to understand a Huddle is to think of a bible study: a group of individuals coming together to share, study, and talk about scripture. The unique aspect to these student-athlete Huddles is how the scriptures intertwine sports with the message. This is special for the student-athletes because they can take what they learn through the studies and apply it to their everyday lives (given that the majority of their day is consumed with athletics). 

Student-athletes are responsible for leading FCA ministries on their campuses. However, each ministry will have coaches/sponsors who provide support as well as an FCA staff member (such as an area director) to provide the training and encouragement it takes to conduct a campus ministry. As Lowcountry Area Director, Emmett Morgan stated in an interview, "My role is to strengthen coaches and athletes in their faith and encourage them to share that faith with others."

Me (Alexa Chiarelli) pictured
with area director, Emmett Morgan

Here at the College of Charleston, FCA's Huddle is specifically for registered student-athletes at The College. The Huddle ranges from 15-25 members. Yes, this number may seem small but we have to keep in mind the busy schedules of student-athletes. Trying to arrange schedules unfortunately sometimes results in a small group. As a member of FCA myself, although a bigger huddle would be nice to see, I enjoy having a small group. With the small size, this enables each member to be able to share personal stories, ask specific questions, and really draw conclusions about scripture that pertains to personal aspects of individual lives.

It is great when you get to hear everyone's stories and how the Christian faith is impacting them on and off the playing field. As FCA member and Huddle Leader Madison Tarleton stated, "FCA has been really good for me to understand myself as an athlete, as a student, and as a Christian...all these things that I like to call my hyphenated identity."

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is currently celebrating their 60th anniversary. Throughout the years, FCA has exploded into a phenomenon and has become the "heart and soul in sports" (FCA.org). FCA camps, that are held around the world, has grown from having to 256 campers in 1956 to 59,752 campers in 38 states, 25 countries, totaled at the end of 2013.

I am a proud member of the Lowcountry's Fellowship of Christian Athletes that is home to 55+ Huddles empowering over 3,000 student-athletes. I chose to give you a more in-depth look at this outstanding organization and would encourage you take a look at the other sources to this piece to really understand the impact and importance of this unique ministry.

One-on-One with Huddle Leader, Madison Tarleton
Q&A with Area Director Emmett Morgan
Timeline of FCA: FCA Through the Years
Interviews with Huddle members of the College of Charleston's FCA

FCA logo
courtesy of FCA.org

One-On-One with Huddle Leader, Madison Tarleton

Madison Tarleton is a senior student-athlete here at the College of Charleston. To the members of FCA, she is the face of the huddle. Tarleton is the Huddle leader and sometimes referred to the "unofficial FCA president." She comes prepared every week with a theme for the group's devotional and leads the conversation during the Huddle.

"FCA has been a great way to meet other Christian athletes," Tarleton says. "I think it's good that most of all our devotionals are related to sports...it really helps people understand their situation in a different lens they they normally would."

I had the chance to get a more in-depth look at how FCA has impacted and affected Tarleton's life. Watch the video below to learn more.

Madison Tarleton will sure be missed next year when we embarks on the next journey of her life post graduation. However, the members of FCA look forward to next (and final) semester with Tarleton.

Q&A with FCA Area Director, Emmett Morgan

I had the opportunity to speak with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Area Director, Emmett Morgan. Morgan has been involved with FCA since 2004 and has been making huge impacts with each passing year.

"I do see student athletes grow in their faith, initiate team Bible studies, pray together after games," Morgan says. "Those are my wins that let me know that the ministry is having an impact."

The College of Charleston is lucky enough to have Morgan as their region representative for the chapter here on campus. Morgan attends each bible study, or "huddle," that the chapter hosts every week and helps further the study the athletes have prepared for that evening.

He is always a key aspect to the group, especially when the scripture is difficult to comprehend or adapt to everyday life. Morgan always finds a way for the athletes to take what is trying to be conveyed and enable the student-athletes to apply it to their lives.

"My hope is that they will recognize they are athletes not by genetics but by a gift from God," Morgan stated.

Below are the responses from Emmett Morgan that really shape the picture of what it means to be an area director. I chose a different color to outline the answers Morgan has provided me with to make for an easy read. Enjoy!

Q: How did you get involved with FCA?

Emmett Morgan and his wife, Theresa Morgan

A: My first career after college was banking. First in retail banking doing various jobs at the branch level, and at the end, managing a Private Banking Group as a financial planner. Through the influence of my boss in 2001, the Gospel was shared with me in a way that for the first time I fully understood and ultimately wanted to live my life for Christ. I was doing well in banking, but felt a stirring in my heart to share the Gospel with young people in some sort of para-church ministry. I began researching what types of ministries were out there that would fill the need I felt, and ultimately landed with FCA in June 2004. I had never been involved with FCA prior to that and had not even heard of them. Having been an athlete and still athletic, I loved the platform FCA operated on and their ministry plan of sharing the Gospel “to and through” coaches and athletes.  

Q: Describe your role in FCA.

A: My role in FCA is Area Director – I am responsible for the ministry of FCA in middle schools, high schools, and colleges in Charleston, Berkeley, Colleton, and Dorchester Counties. This involves the expansion of ministry – getting into as many schools or recreation fields as possible; hiring staff; and implementing and overseeing the budget for the ministry and each employee (employees are responsible for raising their own support). FCA is highly volunteer focused, there are over 55 FCA Huddles in the Lowcountry with over 3,000 student-athletes and coaches involved. There are only 3 employees, which means the bulk of the ministry is done through coaches and student leaders.

Q: What does your role mean to you?

A: What it means to me is that God has blessed FCA with access to public school campuses and teams unlike any other ministry. I want to see that continue. At a greater level, in a time when more young people leave the church (age 14 – 25), I see FCA as a way to share the Gospel with student athletes at school as opposed to church. Ultimately, with coaches having such tremendous influence over their athletes, and athletes over non-athletes, I fear a day that a coach or athlete may be asked at Heaven’s Gate “I put X amount of athletes and kids under your control each season, what did you tell them about Me?” My role is to strengthen coaches and athletes in their faith and encourage them to share that faith with others.

Q: What kind of impact do you see on the student-athletes you meet with?

A: Sadly, my job is to cast seeds onto the ground and allow God to produce the fruit. I worked with FCA for three years before a student ever said that something we did or said at FCA had changed his life. However, I do see student athletes grow in their faith, initiate team Bible studies, pray together after games, and remember to thank God for a touchdown or win. Those are my wins that let me know that the ministry is having an impact.

Emmett with his adorable daughter Emi!

Q: What do you hope for the most for the student-athletes who are involved with FCA?

A: My greatest hope for student-athletes involved with FCA is that they will be strong in their faith, at a time and in their age, when being religious is often mocked or disregarded. My hope is that they will recognize they are athletes not by genetics but by a gift from God, and they will use the influence they have been given to live out their lives as strong Christians.

Q: What is your favorite aspect about FCA?

A: In a time when the vocal minority has the influence to force the Christian majority to not have prayer in school or before games, it gives me tremendous delight that FCA goes onto public school campuses and holds Bible studies in the classrooms. It gives me tremendous delight that FCA is often the largest club on a campus. Lastly, I love when a student comes up through middle school involved in FCA, goes to FCA at high school, and then is still involved at college. The biggest “win” is to see a coach, who was involved with FCA in middle school, and now at age 40, 50, or 60, is still doing FCA with his fellow coaches or his team. (I haven’t been involved long enough to see that happen yet), but I do see it in coaches that were involved with FCA even before I was born.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Through The Years

1954: The Fellowship of Student Athletes is established

Basketball coach Don McClanen sparked the idea of The Fellowship of Student Athletes after being touched by God. “If athletes could endorse automobiles or cigarettes, why couldn’t they endorse this thing that was about life?” McClanen stated. After speaking with a group of Pittsburg businessmen, this program was launched and grew quickly: Creating leadership in coaches, opportunities for athletes to share their minister through sports, and changing communities across the nation.

1956: The First National Camp was held in Colorado with 256 athletes and coaches in attendance. These camps grew throughout the years: by 1969, 16 National Camps were held with 7,000 attendees, in 1995, 13,048 individuals attended FCA National Camps, and today there are 400 camps in 35 countries where individuals can go for “inspiration and perspiration.” Camps are held for a week at a time and include 7 different types: Sports, Leadership, Coaches, Power, Partnership, Team, and International.

1966: Huddle program established

A Huddle program is anything that relates to FCA that is not constituted as a camp. This includes bible studies on college campuses, middle and high schools, coaches’ bible studies, and the sort. For example, the Huddle here on the College of Charleston’s campus meets every week with about 20 members. The study lasts for a little over an hour and consists of a study of scripture in relation to athletics.

1974: The Fellowship of Student Athlete’s National Conference Center opened in Indianapolis, IN

This area was set up for the purpose of hosting camps and events. Various church and sport groups have primarily used the facilities to host camps for sports such as football, basketball, and tennis, just to name a few. A local college in the central-Indiana area, Wabash College, has used the facilities for pre-season training for a handful of years now. Wabash football Coach Chris Creighton stated, “We've used it for a time of team bonding and it's the ideal place to do that.”

1995: The Fellowship of Student Athletes is established on the World Wide Web: www.fca.org This website holds many purposes. It is a site you can go to and learn just about anything related to FCA there is (FCA camps, how to start a huddle, FCA gear, etc.). However, it is so much more than just informational. This website also contains other branches such as FCA resources. This page includes devotionals, bible studies, videos, and other resources that students, coaches, and leaders can use to further their bible studies on their own. This is extra helpful when students miss a few weeks of FCA sessions or during the summer when FCA does not meet on a regular basis.

1996: One Way 2 Play (OW2P) is launched

This program is a “systematic Christ-centered program developed to confront the problem of drug use among students by instill values, encouraging goal-setting and establishing accountability through positive peer pressure” (OW2P Playbook). Students recognize this commitment by signing a card that states they will be alcohol and drug free for they understand this is the only way to play without jeopardizing their future success.

2012: The previously existing magazine undergoes a name change and currently holds this name today: FCA Magazine

The magazine is published bi-monthly and contains feature stories from Christian coaches and athletes. Each story provides an account from athletes and coaches that relate to sports through their religious beliefs and experiences. It gives the readers a first-hand account to how integrated religion and sports truly is. It also features stories from professional athletes and shines a positive light on those individuals who tend to have a negative light in media.

Up-close with the Members of FCA

The members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on the campus of the College of Charleston are being touched by the word of God each week. They took the time to share their accounts of how being a member of FCA has shaped their lives in special ways. Take a look at the video below to see the impact FCA is making in the lives of these members.

Each of these members are can be found at CofC's FCA Huddle each week learning about how to bring the Christian faith onto the playing field with them. Their words are meaningful and as a member myself, I couldn't agree more with the words they shared.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes guides the lives of Student-Athletes

Recently, I had the chance to speak with members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at the College of Charleston. FCA is a religious organization that is known across the nation. On the College of Charleston campus, FCA is for registered student-athletes and is a group that meets once a week to talk about the word of God. The unique element about FCA is how they analyze the scripture they study. The scripture is broken down into ways that relate to an athletic life and really uses examples that the student-athletes can relate to and apply on a daily basis. Take a look at the video below to hear what FCA means to six of the members at the College of Charleston.



The group is organized by Emmett Morgan as what FCA refers to as a "huddle leader." Mr. Morgan will soon be featured on my blog in Q&A (stay tuned!).  Madison Tarleton is the senior student-athlete of the group who leads conversations and provides the scripture alongside of Mr. Morgan. FCA is a great way for student-athletes to come together, share their religion, and take their next step in the right direction...whatever that step may be!

Volleyball's Upcoming Weekend

The College of Charleston Volleyball team looks to take on the CAA Conference Tournament this upcoming weekend in Charleston, S.C. The Charleston Sports Network had a chance to speak with head Coach Jason Kepner as well two of his athletes.



The action starts at the Johnson Center Friday, Nov. 21 at 4:00pm. and culminates Sunday afternoon with the championship final. We wish the Cougars the best of luck as they look to chase down another conference title.

A Day at the Track

The College of Charleston Track and Field team travels to James Island Charter High School everyday to train and become the best Division I athletes that they can be. Below is a video, produced with Kizoa, to give you an inside look to what a day at practice looks like for the Lady Cougars.

Cofc Track - Video Maker

I am honored to call myself a track & field student-athlete for the College of Charleston and I am pleased to share my amazing experiences with you. Each year we go through an extensive conditioning season that extends from August to December. With that phase coming to a close, I am beyond excited for the competition season to start in January! Stay tuned and, GO COUGARS!

The Track Team Without A Track

The College of Charleston Track and Field team is lacking a major part to its 13-year-old program: a track. Everyday the team spends close to an hour (round trip) traveling to James Island Charter High School. The track there becomes the track these Division I athletes call home.

Julia Petruch
Courtesy of CofCsports.com

"By driving out to practice everyday, we waste an hour that could be used getting stronger, faster and better," says CofC sophomore Track and Field athlete, Julia Petruch.

Amy Seago
College of Charleston
Track and Field Head Coach

Amy Seago, College of Charleston's Track and Field head coach, has been a part of the program for 12 years. When asked about the lack of facility, there were a good amount of positives but more negatives that overshadowed the harsh reality.

"We have always tried to put a positive spin on any obstacles that we have had," Seago stated. "The girls used to make a joke out of not having a track, calling themselves the 'Jamaican Bobsled Team.'"

Although this positive mindset will help the athletes keep their heads up, it is not always this easy for the program to be so optimistic. When it comes to recruiting, not having a facility of its own gives the track and field program a great hurdle to overcome.

What Has Alexa Been Up To?

From athlete to reporter in just 20 minutes.

That is now my theme every Wednesday afternoon. As a new reporter for the Charleston's Sports Network, I find myself racing home from practice, running a brush through my hair and checking my smile before standing up in front of a camera and telling audiences what's ahead for The College's sports teams in the upcoming weekend.

This experience is preparing me for my future goal of being a reporter and news anchor. The packages are released each week and will give you a snapshot of past performances and upcoming competition through the means of interviews with coaches and athletes.

Be sure to visit the CofC Sports channel on YouTube and stay connected with College of Charleston sports teams and my progress as an aspiring reporter!

Mikayla Knizevski is making a Difference on the Map

Mikayla Knizevski pictured above with little girl, Namuron in 2013 

on a mission trip to Turkana Kenya

Whether she is here in the U.S. or just below in Nicaragua, College of Charleston junior Mikayla Knizevski is making a difference in the lives of victimized individuals, wherever she is on the map.

 Due to the low number of safe houses in our country, not to mention the world as a whole, Knizevski is determined to use her passion to increase this low number. Safe houses are a place for victims of sex trafficking to recover and, as Knizevski says, “get back on their feet.”

It started back when Charleston native Knizevski was just in 8^th grade. Not even in high school yet and her passion to travel out of the country was out of this world. Persistency was key, as Knizevski would visit the office of her church everyday begging to be a part of the mission trip heading to Nicaragua. “Most of the people were graduating high school, and I hadn’t even started yet,” Knizevski said. “I was the baby of the trip.” 

Knizevski in Los Cedros, Nicaragua 2009 (above)

President McConnell is already making slam dunks to preserve the 'flagship institution' of the College of Charleston

Since taking office July 1, 2014, President Glenn McConnell of the College of Charleston seems to have his hands full with controversies, new ideas and decision making all trying to build his alma mater into what he calls a "flagship institution." Four main areas President McConnell has dabbled in include 1) hiring a new basketball coach, 2) deciding what to do with the proposed merger with MUSC, 3) his 10 percent concept, and 4) giving up his position as lieutenant governor. In a recent interview with journalist Quintin Washington, President McConnell addressed these topics and gave his personal account regarding these ongoing and past subjects. 

Quintin Washington sits down with President McConnell
to discuss events that have shaped his
presidency thus far (courtesy of Youtube)

Topic #1: The College of Charleston's Basketball Head Coach Headache  

It was President McConnell's first day on the job. He had a list in his hand of all he wanted to get accomplished and saw the day being a productive one. However, it was not long after he sat down for the first time at his desk that his plans quickly changed. 

McConnell had received word that the basketball team had requested to meet with him. He did not hesitate to answer this call of request for it has become known the president’s passion for some athletic teams at The College. (Within the interview alone the president repeatedly mentioned the basketball team even when the topic was no longer focused on it).

It was refreshing to hear President McConnell not harp on the controversial topic of firing ex-head basketball coach Doug Wojcik. But instead, McConnell has his focus on a stronger future with the hiring of new head coach Earl Grant. He sees The College moving forward with no “anchors” from the past holding the institution down. 

With this forward movement, the question arose of whether there is confidence in Athletic Director Joe Hall to handle such movement. “We are going to be doing things a little bit differently this coming year," said President McConnell. "But that’s not a lack of confidence in anybody, it’s that we have a changed set of circumstances.” This leaves a question hanging over everyone’s heads of whether or not we will see Mr. Hall walking the halls of TD Arena within the coming year.

Walking to the Beat of Footsteps

On Saturday, Sept. 27 families, friends, teammates, and survivors gathered in Liberty Square in Charleston, S.C. to participate in the Lowcountry's 2014 Heart Walk. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, this three-mile walk is held to raise money and awareness for those who have survived, suffered, or even lost his/her life to cardiovascular disease. (Click here for route map)

The donations go toward providing the highest research for doctors to utilize to become one step closer to finding the prevention for this No. 1 killer of Americans. The funds also aid in providing information for those who are unaware of the significance this disease plays in our daily lives. 

In opening ceremonies, an American Heart Association representative recognized some of the largest donors who, he stated, "help raise funds to further research in our community." Donations are still being accepted through Nov. 7, 2014 from the Charleston walk.

Red Is The New Bond

The leaves might be falling but shows are just blooming. Fall marks the start to new series, returning seasons, and all-around excited viewers. Among the hype of ABC's new #TGIT line-up, FOX has a story of its own to tell.

Or should I say Charlie has a story to tell?

Fox's newest hit, "Red Band Society," based on a true story, came to life on Sept. 17 through the voice of Charlie (Giffin Gluck), also known as 'coma boy'. This Steven Spielberg creation tells the story of six kids battling different types of illnesses, bound to an Los Angeles hospital, all told through a series of voiceovers from Charlie who has been a coma for quite some time now.

A little strange right? Not necessarily.

The cast and their "also known as" names
Courtesy of spoilertv.com

There are six individual stories to be told. Jordi (Nolan Sotillo), the 'new guy,' Leo (Charlie Rowe), the one who has been through it all, Dash (Astro), the one who thinks he can even get the nurse the like him, Emma (Clara Bravo), the girl who needs to close her text book and eat a meal, and Kara (Zoe Levin), the heartless cheerleader in heart failure. And what better way to capture all these characters' stories than by someone who can see everything that is taking place from above? A reliable outsider who is literally on the outside...outside the realm of life. 

Evaluating Recent and Ongoing Crime In Charleston

Here in Charleston S.C., there are many reports of crime. Students at the College of Charleston receive emails from the school's president and Campus Safety regarding recent occurrences that they believe we should be aware of; whether it's campus related or a city-wide issue. This helps students stay aware of what is going on in the city they call home. 

There poses the first issue. Because students have made Charleston their home, it is hard to keep in mind that at the end of the day, Charleston is still a city. And because it is a city, city-like activity will take place. 

The two most recent incidents that have occurred, and that helped spark my desire for this topic, deal with West Ashley and Burns Lane downtown near C of C's campus. 

Charleston County Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Matuskovic, was shot and killed Monday Sept. 8 by a man who was causing disruption in the Gardens at Ashley River apartment complex. To me, this was just another awful situation that lands West Ashley above the fold on our newspapers in the morning. But it was one that gained so much attention and frightened me for students I know who live off the peninsula. This made me want to find out more about how students felt living in places that are notorious for making the headlines. Do we have the wrong impression about these communities because of the news?

The other recent incident was an armed robbery on Burns Lane.

Email sent out to students and staff regarding the incident on Burns Lane

A Deputy Discovery

In the wake of the shooting of Deputy Joseph Matuskovic, I learned something. I came across this discovery the morning of his funeral.

Charleston County Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Matuskovic, was shot and killed Monday Sept 8 by a man who was causing disruption in the Gardens at Ashley River apartment complex.

Patriot Guard Riders lining the road
in honor of Deputy Joe Matuskovic
Courtesy of Twitter

Now on the day of the funeral, I had a revelation. My Twitter feed was covered up with coverage. Everything from road closures to the Patriot Guard Riders who were lining the sidewalks was being talked about--all in light of the funeral.

Among all the posts, it was one tweet that really caught my eye...

Her Campus, "Campus Celebrity"

Image acquired from Google

Recently, I was featured in an article for the online magazine entitled Her Campus. The writers choose a "campus celebrity" to feature each week and this week, it was my time to shine! Learn more about me by checking out the article here!

The Perfect Pier

Take a look at the picture above. This pier, located at Waterfront Park in Charleston, S.C., is the first place that comes to mind when I think about my favorite place in Charleston. Of course its beauty speaks for itself, but this pier means more to me than just a beautiful scene. It is in the heart of the perfect walk along the water for any tourist visiting the city. Just five minutes from the historic City Market, you can't help but walk on down after getting some shopping in!

This pier is personal to me because of running. Specifically, I fell in love with the far left hand corner of this pier. That's a little strange, you might say. But let me tell you why. After being 30 minutes into a run, this is the perfect stopping point to catch your breath. And when you find yourself on the far left side, you are staring at nothing other than the Arthur Ravenel Bridge.

View of the Ravenel from the far left hand side of the pier

"Okay, so another beautiful sight," you might be thinking. "But what is the importance?" I spent my entire freshman year doing what I love: running. But all the while, I was actually training for the Cooper River Bridge Run. This run starts in Mount Pleasant and challenges the runners in a 10k race across the bridge over into Downtown. So when I let myself take a breather, I took in the sight of my goal. I was able to stare at what I was challenging myself to run across and contemplate the importance of achieving it. This fueled my desire to take that next step...of both the run and my goal.

The Ravenel Bridge

Water Taxi dock alongside the pier

The left hand side of the pier is also home to the Charleston Water Taxi. This taxi is a great alternative to downtown traffic and will get you across the water in no time! It is constantly running which is why you don't see it in this picture but the flag indicates that this is where it docks for those who are ready for some water transportation! The taxi will take you over to Patriots Point to see sights such as the USS Yorktown. Take a close look at the picture below and you can see the view of the Yorktown! 

View of the USS Yorktown from the Pier

The pier is home to great views and tons of fun!

Take a look across the way...

...Or swing the day away!

Behind the pier is home to the rest of Waterfront Park. Here you can find the famous Pineapple Fountain (shown below). 

This fountain is important and unique to Charleston because it is a symbol of hospitality. And here in Charleston, we pride ourselves in hospitality!

Kids love cooling off in the fountain!

While we all like to get lost in all the views of the water, another great part about this area isn't water, but grass!

This green area is the perfect escape from the library. Freshman year, my roommate and I found ourselves packing up our backpacks and heading down to Waterfront to get in some studying while also enjoying the fresh air. 

The next time you are in Charleston, or if you need a break from the busy foot traffic of downtown, make sure you take a visit to the Pier at Waterfront Park. It will clear your mind and leave you feeling more at peace. That is why it is the perfect pier.

These two photos were taken while I was on my first run back from a foot injury.
I couldn't help but capture the moment of being reunited with my perfect pier.

Overcrowding Nightmare for Knightsville Elementary

When students picture their first day of school, they may think of the noise of conversation in the hallway, smiling teachers standing outside of their classroom doors, or perhaps opening their lockers for the very first time.

For the students who attend Knightsville Elementary in Summerville, S.C., they do not have that same picture of the first day. Knightsville, which is included in Dorchester District 2, has been battling an overcrowding of students. So what does this mean?

Students making the long walk back to the main building for lunch
(courtesy of The Post and Courier)

With the growing number of students the school is acquiring, the less room the classrooms possess. "The building, constructed in 1938, has room for only 850 students, forcing about 600 others into the 31 mobile units that have been added over the year," wrote reporter Brenda Rindge in her recent article for The Post and Courier. This means tighter quarters and longer walks to the main building for theses young students. Instead of a classroom, the students and teachers reside in a mobile trailer.

This situation makes me sad because I could not imagine spending my first years of school not in a traditional education environment. However, I have to look at the bright side: they are making accommodations rather than turning the students away.

Superintendent Joe Pye
(courtesy of The Post and Courier)

There has already been work in progress for improving this situation. Superintendent Joe Pye of Dorchester District 2 has stayed positive while addressing some concern there has been with the overcrowding affecting the student's performance in the classroom and parents feelings. He stated, "I haven't heard any complaints (about overcrowding). I think they (the parents) all know we passed the referendum and we are anxiously trying to get some new schools together, so they are waiting for that to happen."

I will be interested to see how this situation carries out through the rest of the year and if it has any negative affects on the students. My eye will stay on this situation to evaluate the decision and progress on building more schools.

Take a quick moment to share your thoughts about the situation in the poll on the side of the screen!