The Riley 250

Team members: Seanna Adcox, Stuart Bedenbaugh, Ryan Coleman, Dena Crews, Derek Cromwell, Dolly Garfield

The mission of The Riley 250 is to bolster students’ civics and literacy skills while learning about South Carolina’s role in the nation’s 250th anniversary. Far too many South Carolina students cannot read and write proficiently, increasing their likelihood of dropping out of school and facing a lifetime of struggle. The odds worsen for the nearly 63% of children in South Carolina’s public schools already living in poverty.

The good news is that state-standardized test scores indicate more students are on a path to success. In 2025, 60% of South Carolina’s third- through eighth-grade students met grade-level expectations in English language arts. That was an all-time high since students started taking SC Ready tests 10 years earlier.

However, that means 40% of students still can’t sufficiently read and write.

Meanwhile, a side effect of the importance put on math and reading test scores over the last three decades has been an erosion of history lessons. Statewide testing of social studies standards in elementary and middle schools dwindled from six grades to two before ending altogether in 2019. In high school, all students must still pass one course in U.S. history and take a state-mandated end-of-course test. In 2025, nearly 40% of students failed the multiple-choice test.

This team believes a knowledge of history is essential to understanding the present and shaping a successful future. The great experiment that is American democracy depends on an informed citizenry. As the famous quote goes: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

The Riley 250 project seeks to simultaneously bolster students’ literacy and civics skills through an essay contest open to all fourth graders in the Kershaw County School District. The hope is that a hands-on learning experience – coupled with the ability to win a prize – sparks students’ curiosity while fostering a love of learning.

The project ties celebrations of America’s 250th birthday to the state’s classroom standards. In fourth grade, social studies standards call for students to learn about South Carolina’s role in U.S. history, and expectations for English language arts include being able to research facts and write narratives about real or imagined experiences.

When it comes to America’s founding, there are plenty of events in South Carolina for students to learn and write about. Every county in South Carolina has a Revolutionary War story. Some 400 battles, skirmishes and Revolutionary murders occurred statewide – more than almost any other state. Kershaw County was chosen for the contest because it is home to the Battle of Camden (Aug. 16, 1780) and Battle of Hobkirk Hill (April 25, 1781). The Revolutionary War Visitor Center in Camden offers nearby field trip opportunities for students to learn about South Carolina’s role.

Additionally, all nine of Kershaw County’s elementary schools are Title I, meaning their poverty ratings are high. According to the state Department of Education data, the percentage of children in poverty at each school ranges from 58% to 85%.

The Riley 250 essay contest will be incorporated into teachers’ lessons during the fall of 2026. Students will learn about the roles of all South Carolinians in the Revolutionary War and imagine themselves in the county at the time. Teachers can use education materials available through SC250, officially known as the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission, to celebrate and educate people of all ages about South Carolina’s role.

Part of SC250’s mission is to offer the perspective of everyone impacted by the war, to include the enslaved, Native Americans, women and children. The commission’s website has a searchable section of often overlooked but meaningful stories that can be a resource for teachers and students.

Teachers will pick the top three essays from their school. Then, judges from the South Carolina Press Association will choose the best three in the county. The South Carolina Education Association will fund the prizes.

The winner’s essay will be published in the South Carolina Daily Gazette, and then transformed into a portable mural that can be placed in a location of the principal’s choosing. The mural will encourage students and visitors to ask questions and learn more about their local history. Once the school no longer has space for the mural, it will be donated to the Kershaw County Historical Society.