History of School

MC Faculty 1958-2007

School Year Highlights

1958-59: Three local high schools combined to unify the Mid-Carolina community. Student delegations from Little Mountain High, Pomaria High and Prosperity High worked together to adopt school colors and cooperatively soothe misgivings concerning the loss of high schools for the three communities. The original school colors were black and garnet. The University of South Carolina donated old band uniforms for the MCHS band and Mr. C.S. Williams was the first Principal of Mid-Carolina High School.

1959-60: School traditions began to take hold, and gradually the students felt like one.

1960-61: The Student Council was founded.

1961-62: The first class to attend MC for four years graduated. Rebel Yearbook was dedicated to Mrs. Rebecca K. Lominick.

1962-63: MC hosts football games on its own home football field for the first time. MC boys’ basketball team had a winning season.

1963-64: Students felt the effect of the 1963 Kennedy assassination.

1964-65: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredited MC.

1965-66: "Strokes of the Pen," a literary magazine, was published.

1966-67: The varsity boys' basketball team won the conference 5-A Tournament. MC football team defeats Chapin.

1967-68: The track team was organized. MC football team defeats Chapin.

1968-69: The track team won the State Championship.

1969-70: Students remembered Kent State as the war in Vietnam continued.

1970-71: The Marching Band won the state A Championship. Full racial integration is achieved in Newberry County Public Schools.

1971-72: Construction on the Round Building began.

1972-73: The track team won the conference title for the second consecutive year. The Round Building opened.

1973-74: MC was struck by a tornado on December 13, 1973.

1974-75: The golf team was organized.

1975-76: The basketball team won the Upper State Championship.

1976-77: As America celebrates its Bicentennial in 1976, the football team defeats Chapin. In January 1977, President Carter takes office.

1977-78: Girls' track team was formed.

1978-79: School closed for several days due to a severe ice storm.

1979-80: MC photography club formed.

1980-81: Governor Dick Riley spoke to the student body.

1981-82: AP English & Biology were offered for the first time. Longtime teachers Ovileen Rhodes and Virginia Culbertson retired.

1982-83: AP US History was added to the curriculum.

1983-84: Assistant Principal and boys' varsity basketball coach Ken Long suffered a fatal heart attack following a victory over Saluda in January. 1984 Rebel yearbook won Best Yearbook in South Carolina from the SCJSPA.

1984-85: Rebel yearbook won Best Yearbook in South Carolina for the second consecutive year. On March 28th, 1984, a tornado swept through downtown Newberry causing one fatality and demolishing several buildings-- including the 150 year old St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

1985-86: The football team won the State AA Championship. Mrs. Jennylee Foster retired as chair of the science department.

1986-87: MC's enrollment reached 663 --highest in over a decade. The first computer lab was created for use in academic classes.

1987-88: Long time MC Guidance counselor and Assistant Principal Barbara Ware left MCHS to become Secondary Curricular Coordinator for the Newberry County School District.

1988-89: Gov. Campbell issued a proclamation declaring March 24, 1989 MC Varsity Cheerleaders' Day. The MC cheerleaders won the the UCA Camp Championship, were the UCA Regional first runner-up, and placed in the national High School Cheerleading Championship.

1989-90: Longtime English teacher, Mrs. Dot Lovelace, retired.

1990-91: Coach and bus supervisor Jim Hall retired from MC. The baseball team wins State AA Championship.

1991-92: The Teacher Cadet class was offered for the first time.

1992-93: Junior Varsity football team recorded an undefeated season.

1993-94: Boys Varsity Basketball team went to the playoffs for the first time since 1977. Construction of a new library, cafeteria and administrative suite began.

1994-95: Long-time principal, Mr. George C. Kinard retired after 22 years at the helm of Mid-Carolina High School. Dr. Thomas W. Crump is selected principal. Veteran Cheerleading Coach and PE teacher Mrs. Genice "Mama T" Thompson retires.

1995-96: Boys' Track Team won the AA State Championship. Mrs. Mary Pat Richardson and Miss Linda Griffin, math teachers, retired. Construction on the new cafeteria and library was completed, and all portable classrooms were removed from the campus. Volleyball team is formed.

1996-97: The 1997 graduation saw the first MC class to graduate at Wiles Chapel at Newberry College due to severe weather. Science Chair Mrs. Kay George retired.

1997-98: MC established a greenhouse and a garden for students and teachers. MC soccer team was formed.

1998-99: MC Ladies' Basketball team reached the second round of the State Championship playoffs for the first time in the school's history. Athletic Director and head football coach Lon Armstrong announced his retirement. Financial Secretary Carlene Huffstetler announced her retirement. Principal Paul Shealy left at the end of his first year as MCHS principal and takes the helm at Gilbert High School. Dr. Thomas W. Crump was selected as MCHS principal. Arlo Hill was named Athletic Director and head football coach.

1999-2000: MC Beta Club member Will Dickert was elected President of the South Carolina Beta Club Chapter. MC's Beta Club talent won First Place at the state convention. The Betas traveled to Arlington, Texas for the National Beta Club Convention. MC's Varsity Girls Basketball team earned a spot in the third round of the state play-offs. School was closed for six days due to a snow storm.

2000-2001: The AP US History Class and AP Music Theory Classes earned 100% passing rate on the AP exams. Mrs. Lynn Cary became MCHS's new assistant principal.

2001-2002: Mid-Carolina High School earned EXCELLENT ratings in all three categories on the first SC State report card. Mid Carolina received a Gold Award from the State of South Carolina Department of Education, which recognizes the state's schools with the highest level of student achievement and improvement.

2002-2003: Mrs. Lynn Cary was named MCHS Principal with Mr. Keith Chapman as Assistant Principal. Barry Harley became new head football coach. The Boys Varsity Basketball Team advances to the play-offs for the first time since 1994. The Varsity Baseball team wins the Region 3-AA Championship and advances to the Upper-State Semifinals. Mrs. Alicia Blair retired at the end of the school year.

2003-2004 Ms. Lynn Grimsley, MC Choral Director, was named Newberry County's TEACHER OF THE YEAR. A new interior was designed and added to the school's main entrance and the office areas were restructured for maximum usage. MCHS earned EXCELLENT scores in all three areas of the SC School Report Card. Mrs. Sandra Collins and Mrs. Brenda Stuck retired.

2004-2005 For the first time ever, MC boasted a three member Administrative Staff with Dr. Lynn Cary as Principal, Steve Wicker as Assistant Principal and Katrina Singletary as Administrative Assistant. MCHS again was named a "Palmetto Gold School" and earned an absolute rating of EXCELLENT on the SC School Report Card. Hurricane Ivan forced a rare Monday night football game. Three veteran teachers retired at the end of the 2005 school year: Helen Griffin, Susan Harrison and Michael Hendricks as did guidance counselors Mildred Goggans and Glenn Leath. Louie Alexander was named AD and Varsity football coach.

2005-2006 MC's average SAT scores exceeded that of both the state and nation.verage SAT score exceeded that of both the state and nation. MCHS Varsity Cheerleaders win runner-up in 2A State Competition.

2006-2007 MC's enrollment reached an all time high. Construction on a new Mid-Carolina High School began in August 2006. Ms. Roslyn Bellinger joined the MC staff as an assistant principal. The Varsity Girls' Basketball Team made the second round of the state play-offs.

2007-2008 The MC Football team defeated Newberry. MC's SAT averages exceeded both the state and the nation. The class of 2008 was the last class to attend the original MCHS. In July of 2008, the staff of the original MC began moving into the new MCHS on Cy Schumpert Road.

2008-2009 The NEW Mid-Carolina High School opened in August of 2008. The school was dedicated on October 5, 2008. The MC football team defeated Newberry for the second consecutive year. The first MC wrestling team was organized and MC earned both Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards.

2009-2010 Mid-Carolina High School earned Palmetto Gold for making strides in closing the achievement gap and the school posted a Facebook Page.

Principals: Past and Present

C. S. Williams, 1958-1963,

Hubert M. Bedenbaugh, 1963-1970

Bob Fulmer, 1970-1973

George C. Kinard, 1973-1995

Dr. Thomas W. Crump, 1995-1998

Paul Shealy, 1998-1999

Dr. Thomas W. Crump, 1999-2002

Dr. Lynn Cary, 2002-