Inez Tenenbaum
State Superintendent
of Education Speaks to Business Week 2000 Participants at Erskine
College
South Carolina state Superintendent
of Education Inez Tenenbaum, speaking to about 160 state high school
students Thursday attending South Carolina Business Week 2000 at Erskine
College, said the campers were part of the "smartest" generation ever
produced in America.
"You are so directed," Tenenbaum
told the students. "You know where you want to go, you know your interests,
you have a vision and you have a tremendous spirit.
"You will face many challenges
in the future, but experiences like this at Erskine will prepare you,"
she said. "Make the most of it and take all you have learned back
to your schools and back to your communities."
The Business Week 2000 students have
spent the week at Erskine with 15 representatives from area business,
corporations and industry, who have donated their time to serve as
"Company Advisors" during the week.
Ten South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
staff members are also on campus to conduct Business Week 2000, a
summer camp that has more to do with spreadsheets and profit margins
than with hiking and swimming–though campers do have some time
to enjoy the Erskine campus
The highly motivated Business Week
2000 students represent some of the best and the brightest high school
minds in South Carolina who share a commitment that goes beyond the
bottom line to the quality of life in their communities.
"You are our next generation of
leaders, and it is our mission to prepare you for the business environment
you will one day enter, " Tenenbaum said.
"This camp promotes teamwork,
leadership, personal initiative and individual responsibility," she
said. "I have been all over this state, and I have never felt as good
about a group of people heading into this business world as I do this
group."
Tenenbaum left the students with
words of wisdom from her perspective that emphasized the importance
of enthusiasm and inspiration.
"People will notice you if you
are optimistic," she said.
"And be credible. Set an example
and others will respect you."
Tenenbaum took time after her
speech to answer questions from the students, which included an inquiry
on South Carolina's No. 50 ranking in SAT scores.
"We have students, teachers and
schools in South Carolina that can compete with any other in the nation,"
she said.
South Carolina gained on its overall
SAT ranking last year, the first increase in scoring in eight years,
Tenenbaum said. She added that she hoped South Carolina could improve
on the No. 50 ranking by the end of her term.
"I think we have the potential
to do that," she said. "Everything we do is geared toward academic
achievement."
Tenenbaum, who served as a teacher
and as an attorney before taking public office, also fielded a question
about women entering politics.
"There is nothing like the feeling
you get when you help others," she said. "Find out what it is you
want to do to make a difference in the world, then go about making
your dreams come true."
Business Week at Erskine will
conclude Friday with a graduation assembly at 1:15 p.m. in Lesesne
Auditorium.
