Governor Henry McMaster and S.C. House Representative Raye Felder will honor hometown heroes and champions on Thursday, April 21 at 4:30 p.m. at Fort Mill’s new Amphitheater inside Walter Y. Elisha Park (345 N. White Street, Fort Mill).
Retired Fort Mill Police Chief Jeff Helms, who served the police department for 27 years before retiring last year, will be presented with the Order of the Palmetto. The Order of the Palmetto is the State of South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, presented in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service and contributions on a national or statewide scale. Local, county and state officials, including Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage, will attend the ceremony.
Several outstanding student and sports groups will also be honored, including state and national champions from Nation Ford, Fort Mill, and Catawba Ridge high schools. The Fort Mill All-Stars, winners of the 2021 Dixie Youth Baseball World Series, will also be recognized for their outstanding accomplishments. See below for a full list of honorees.
“We welcome this opportunity to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our outstanding students,” said Superintendent of Fort Mill Schools, Dr. Chuck Epps. “Their hard work and dedication to their goals is inspiring to everyone and this opportunity to celebrate them is well deserved.”
“I am very excited for our community to attend the celebration of so many accomplishments. It is an honor to have this event in the beautiful amphitheater and showcase Fort Mill to Governor McMaster,” said S.C. House Representative Raye Felder. “Prior to the pandemic students would travel to Columbia to be recognized by the House of Representatives. I know the community will embrace this opportunity to be a part of the celebration.”
“Fort Mill is a community well recognized for its quality of life. The power and attractiveness of that quality comes directly from its people,” said Mayor Guynn Savage. “We are proud to honor some of those special people during this event and to thank all of those in our community that have made their successes possible.”
Honorees include:
- Olivia Corbi, Fort Mill High School, 4A Girls State Swim Championship & 200 Yard Freestyle State Swim Champion
- Nation Ford High School Band, 4A State Champions
- Nation Ford High School Girls Swim Team, 5A State Swim Team Champions-200 Yard Relay
- Nation Ford High School Marine Corps JROTC National Champions
- Fort Mill High School Band, USBANDS Southeastern States Championship
- Fort Mill High School Cross Country Team, 5A State Champions
- Catawba Ridge High School Marching Band, 3A State Champions
- Catawba Ridge High School, Sam Rich State Championship Cross Country
- Fort Mill All-Stars, Dixie Youth World Series Champions
- Jeff Helms, Ret. Town of Fort Mill Police Chief - Order of the Palmetto