COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 15, 2026) – Three York County students have been named 2026–2027 PalmettoPride Youth Ambassadors: Hannah Dean and Maeve Hardy of Fort Mill and Jurnee Rainey of Rock Hill. They are among 16 students selected statewide from nearly 200 applicants.
Hannah Dean, a senior at Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill, is returning for a second year. During her first year as an ambassador, she helped remove more than 3,000 pounds of trash through community cleanups and presented her work to the Fort Mill Town Council. Each month, she collects water samples from the Catawba River to test for contaminants. “I have seen firsthand how individual actions affect our waterways and public spaces,” Dean said.
Maeve Hardy of Fort Mill, a junior at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville, has been a Girl Scout since before kindergarten. She has planted gardens, joined river sweeps, and volunteered at PalmettoPride river and road cleanups. She served as vice president of her previous school’s Sustainability Club and is now part of the Governor’s School environmental club. “A litter-free community means people care more about their actions, about each other, and about their and others’ future,” Hardy said.
Jurnee Rainey, a senior at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, serves on the Rock Hill Youth Council and the Rock Hill Schools Student Advisory Council, and she is part of the South Carolina 4-H Pinckney Leadership Program. As a City of Rock Hill volunteer, she supports community events, including cleanups. “It is important for all communities regardless of location to see litter-free as a non-negotiable expectation,” Rainey said.
With more Gen Z adults moving to South Carolina than to any other state, PalmettoPride is preparing young South Carolinians to lead the way in keeping the state clean and beautiful. Now in its fifth year, the Youth Ambassador program offers participants a $1,000 scholarship, community service hours and professional development opportunities.
“Our future depends on young leaders who care about this place. These 16 students are taking matters into their own hands, and their classmates, neighbors, and even the adults around them are following their lead,” said Sarah Lyles, executive director of PalmettoPride.
“Each of these students has the passion, influence, and drive to inspire change in their communities. Through the Youth Ambassador program, we help them put those qualities into action and bring us closer to our vision of communities across South Carolina that are safe, clean, and cared for,” said Megan Hamilton, who leads PalmettoPride’s Youth Ambassador program.
Over the coming months, ambassadors will take part in regular training and networking sessions, represent PalmettoPride at community events, plan and lead local litter cleanups, and lead outreach that promotes civic pride and environmental stewardship across South Carolina.
2026–2027 PalmettoPride Youth Ambassadors:
- Natalie Abshire, Junior at Liberty High School in Pickens County
- Grace Brusky, Senior at the Cyber Academy of South Carolina in Lancaster County
- Grayson Castle, Freshman at Berkeley High School in Berkeley County
- William Cutshall, Senior at the S.C. Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe in McCormick County
- Hannah Dean, Senior at Catawba Ridge High School in York County
- Safa El Kouch, Senior at Socastee High School in Horry County
- Corrina Giacalone, Sophomore at Blue Ridge High School in Greenville County
- Maeve Hardy, Junior at the S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in Darlington County
- Emil Ince, Senior at A.C. Flora High School in Richland County
- Maddison McCree, Sophomore at Chester High School in Chester County
- Nathan Nguyen, Sophomore at Boiling Springs High School in Spartanburg County
- Jurnee Rainey, Senior at Northwestern High School in York County
- Jamiya Smith, Senior at Greenwood High School in Greenwood County
- Mckenzy Stroede, Junior at Summerville High School in Dorchester County
- Divija Viswabrahmana, Junior at River Bluff High School in Lexington County
- Olyvia Wall, Senior at Wardlaw Academy in Edgefield County
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About PalmettoPride: Created as a legislative initiative to fight litter and help beautify our state, PalmettoPride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that fights litter in South Carolina by inspiring prevention through education, supporting enforcement, connecting community groups to resources, and mobilizing volunteers.
Website: https://www.palmettopride.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalmettoPride/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PalmettoPrideKSCB/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/palmettopride
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
