The Lee County School District is partnering with Coca-Cola Consolidated for three years to help students achieve their career goals.
The Lee County School District has announced a partnership with Coca-Cola Consolidated to help students achieve their career goals.
Lee County Schools Superintendent Bernard McDaniel said the partnership began earlier this year and is expected to last for three years.
“We want them to dream big and know what’s possible. That’s a big part of this effort and another step in the right direction.”
McDaniel said the district is no stranger to partnerships, its most recent being with Pepsi.
“One of the supervisors reached out to us about potentially partnering with our career center on some activities,” McDaniel said, “and that conversation evolved into, ‘Why not develop a full-time partnership?'”
The district says the collaboration will benefit both companies in terms of marketing and students’ access to the workforce after graduation.
McDaniel also noted that it made sense for the school district to partner with Coca-Cola Consolidated, which has invested in Lee County and employs many of the parents of students who attend Lee County Schools.
“Many of our graduates leave with the entry-level certification required for these respected industries,” McDaniel said. “Whether it’s automotive, technology, nursing assistant, cosmetology, pharmacology, we’ve been able to provide that.”
Marques Cain, a production supervisor for Coca-Cola Consolidated and a Lee County School District native, said these types of partnerships are necessary to ensure a bright future.
“I want to set an example for myself of giving back to the community, and I hope that in the future, whatever career path my students choose to take, the example I’m trying to set will encourage them to do the same,” he said.
Kane said he looks forward to further partnerships in the future.
“This is a big win for the community, it’s a big win for the school district and it’s a big win for Coca-Cola Consolidated,” he said. “So it’s a win for everybody.”
Over the years, Coca-Cola has supported many community organizations in Bishopville and throughout the Palmetto State.
