Volume 4, Issue 1
Clover LEAF Marks 40 Years of Growing Educational Opportunity
This year, Clover LEAF proudly celebrates a milestone that reflects four decades of commitment to students, teachers, and the future of Clover schools. Founded 40 years ago (earlier logo to the left), the Foundation will commemorate the occasion with a 40th Anniversary Gala on March 7 at Camelot Meadows in Belmont - a fitting celebration of a legacy rooted in service and community support.
Clover LEAF began as a simple but powerful idea. Former school board member and current Clover LEAF Secretary Windy Bartee recognized the value of educational foundations in other districts and believed Clover’s teachers and students deserved the same kind of support. Partnering with then–Communications Officer Teresa Glass, she set out to bring that vision to life. With the help of local attorney Hank Owen, the group drafted bylaws, and community leader Charles Hutchins, a Duke Energy executive, agreed to serve as the Foundation’s first president. Mrs. Bartee’s generous $10,000 gift provided the seed money to establish the Clover LEAF endowment, setting the Foundation on strong footing from the very beginning.
Over the years, Clover LEAF has relied on time-honored fundraising efforts and the dedication of volunteers who believed deeply in public education. Golf tournaments, community fundraisers, and even a beloved singing Christmas tree helped sustain the Foundation in its early years. That tradition of holiday music later evolved into the Christmas performances that remain a cherished community custom today (now performed by the Clover Choraliers). This year’s gala marks the third of its kind, continuing a tradition of gathering friends and supporters to invest in education.
Thanks to the generosity of corporate sponsors and community partners, Clover LEAF has most recently supported the Clover High School Band’s participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade, provided essential equipment for the culinary arts program, funded the enhanced elementary STEM labs, funded hydroponic gardens and many other teacher/student programs.Over the past 40 years, the Foundation has remained true to its founding mission -supporting teachers with innovative ideas that enhance learning.
Each year, Clover LEAF awards more than 20 classroom grants, empowering educators to bring creativity and enrichment directly to their students. This year alone, more than $20,000 was awarded across the district, a remarkable growth from the three $500 grants distributed in the Foundation’s earliest days.
Forty years later, Clover LEAF stands as a testament to what thoughtful leadership, community generosity, and a belief in education can accomplish. As the Foundation celebrates this anniversary, it does so with gratitude for the past and confidence that its best work still lies ahead.
2026 LEAF Officers
Karen Farris - President
Karen is a dedicated educator with more than 16 years of experience in South Carolina public schools. She is currently serving as a long-term substitute in the Fort Mill School District. Her professional background includes curriculum development, classroom management, and engaging learners from kindergarten through seventh grade, with service across multiple districts and roles.
Karen brings both professional expertise and deep-rooted community connections to her work as a Clover LEAF Board member. A lifelong member of the Clover community, she is raising her family locally and remains actively involved in district life through athletics, fine arts, and church service. She serves as treasurer of the CHS Athletic Booster Club and as a member of the Choral Booster Club, where her husband, Chris, serves as president. Her long-standing commitment to education, combined with her personal investment in Clover schools, reflects a strong passion for supporting Clover LEAF’s mission and strengthening the Clover School District for future generations. Karen earned her B.S. in Early Childhood Education, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC and holds a South Carolina Board of Education, Professional Certificate as a Highly Qualified teacher.
Dr. Catherine Myrick - Vice President | Grants
Dr. Catherine Myrick, Vice-President - Grants. Dentist; Clover Family Dentistry. Dr. Myrick is a general dentist in Clover, where she has practiced for nearly 20 years after taking over her father’s dental practice. She is a graduate of Clover High School, Clemson University, Winthrop University, and the Medical University of South Carolina. Before pursuing dentistry, she taught multiple courses at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, SC. Catherine is committed to lifelong learning and professional growth. In 2020, she earned Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry, followed by her Mastership in 2022. She is also an alumna of the Dawson Academy and the Pankey Institute of Dentistry, and she maintains active membership in the American Equilibration Society and the South Carolina Dental Association. Beyond her practice, Catherine is dedicated to leadership and service. She mentors high school students through the South Carolina Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership program, is a proud member of the Clover Rotary Club, and currently serves as Vice President of Grants for Clover LEAF.
Marty Cotton - Vice President
Marty Cotton, Vice President – Funds. Business Development Manager: Marty is proud of his three children - all graduates of the Clover School District. He has over twenty years as a Marketing and Business Development Director for Architectural and Engineering companies. Marty is responsible for creating and executing business development strategies, tactical plans, and processes to increase revenue, expand markets, and accomplish other objectives. He earned his MBA from Thunderbird - The American Graduate School of International Management. He also has a B.A. from Oklahoma State University.
Marty has always been committed to the support of education and finds his work for the Clover LEAF rewarding. In addition to his work with the Foundation, Marty volunteers with the Clover Rotary Club, the Clover Economic Development Board, and has served on the Clemson Family Advisory Board for almost a decade.
Alexis Ellis - Treasurer
Alexis Ellis, Treasurer. Manager: Comporium, Inc. Alexis serves as Tax Manager for Comporium, Inc., bringing strong financial expertise and a commitment to responsible stewardship to both her professional and volunteer roles. A graduate of Winthrop University, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, as well as an MBA with an accounting emphasis. Deeply engaged in community service, she currently serves as Board Chair of Keystone Substance Abuse Services, is a past Treasurer for that organization, and serves as Treasurer for Clover LEAF. Her involvement with Clover LEAF reflects a genuine passion for the Clover School District and a desire to see it continue to grow and excel. She especially values the Foundation’s teacher grants and the opportunity to see students benefit from innovative ideas brought to life in the classroom.
Windy Bartee - Secretary
Alexis Ellis, Treasurer. Manager: Comporium, Inc. Alexis serves as Tax Manager for Comporium, Inc., bringing strong financial expertise and a commitment to responsible stewardship to both her professional and volunteer roles. A graduate of Winthrop University, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, as well as an MBA with an accounting emphasis. Deeply engaged in community service, she currently serves as Board Chair of Keystone Substance Abuse Services, is a past Treasurer for that organization, and serves as Treasurer for Clover LEAF. Her involvement with Clover LEAF reflects a genuine passion for the Clover School District and a desire to see it continue to grow and excel. She especially values the Foundation’s teacher grants and the opportunity to see students benefit from innovative ideas brought to life in the classroom.
cLOVEr Cuisine 2026
Save the Date
Join us on Thursday, April 16, from 5-7 PM in the CHS Cafeteria to enjoy a delicious meal prepared by the students in the Culinary Arts program with lively entertainment by the CHS Jazz Band. This year’s theme is “Local cLOVEr”. It will be a reimagined farm-to-table experience in which the students will utilize fresh, local ingredients in recipes from around the globe. An example might be pork from a local farm being incorporated into a Vietnamese Bahn Mi slider.Clover Cuisine supports our mission of achieving and maintaining educational excellence in the Clover School District while providing a real-life culinary experience. CHS Culinary Arts program prepares students to be leaders in the Hospitality industry. Led by Chef Scott Michaw, students can gain industry ready certifications like ServSafe Foodhandler, Servsafe Food Safety Manager, and the Prostart COA.The Clover High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Courtney Wyatt, is a vibrant ensemble that showcases the talent and dedication of its young musicians. The Jazz Band's commitment to community engagement shines through their tours across the Clover School District and Clover Community. Their versatility is put on display through diverse repertoire that spans from swing and funk to Latin and salsa music, allowing them to bring joy to a wide audience. With each note, the Clover High School Jazz Band continues to enrich the cultural landscape of York County, creating memorable experiences for all.You may purchase tickets using the QR code above or at the linkhttps://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-clover-cuisine
CMS Robotics Team
2026 CREATE Robotics Competition
The Clover Middle School Robotics Team has been invited to attend the 2026 Create US Open Robotics Competition in Council Bluff, Iowa. This competition is by invitation only. As of this writing, only one other team will be in attendance from South Carolina. Teams from all over the US along with China and Canada will be in attendance.
The 2025-26 VEX Robotics game is called Push Back. Push Back consists of numerous small 3.5-inch octa-decahedron (an 18-sided 3D shape) and elevated tube-like structures. These ‘tubes’ lay horizontally on three different planes with the goal of inserting the octa-decahedron into the tubes. VEX changes their game yearly, which forces teams to design and build brand-new robots each year from scratch.
VEX Robotics team members design, build, test, and compete with their own personalized robots. Students have full autonomy to build their robots how they see fit. This year team 1660B “Triple Trouble” has won awards at two different competitions including the Innovation Award at Clemson University for their unique roller intake system, and the Judge's Award for their Engineering Notebook and fully coding their robot in Phyton. These two awards were integral in recognizing the team to receive the invitation to the 2026 US Open Competition.
The team consists of 3 members; Annabelle Naile (lead designer and scribe), Trinity Scott (python coder, autonomous subject matter expert), and Harrison Mayberry (drivetrain designer, lead builder, skills driver).
The team’s advisors are Virginia Mayberry, PLTW-Gateway Teacher (Head Robotics Coach), Clover Middle School and Assistant Coach Matthew Mayberry, P.E. from Kinectrics (Nuclear Design Engineering)
Clover LEAF will share in covering costs with Dr. Millicent Dickey, Chief Academic Officer for Clover School District, and parents of team members.
Bands of Clover
137th Tournament of Roses Parade
The trip to Pasadena was especially poignant for band members as it was the last trip some of these students will take together with the splitting of Clover High School and launch of Lake Wylie High School.
Televisions across Clover School District were tuned into the parade on New Year’s Day as the community cheered on the band and celebrated its accomplishment. The band even drew accolades from South Carolina’s Congressional delegation, including Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. Ralph Norman.
During the six days in southern California, the students performed four of the six days at various events. Bands of America Preview, Tournament of Roses BANDFEST session III with Indiana University’s Marching Band, 137th Tournament of Roses Parade, and a quick little parade in the magical Disney Land!!
While in Pasadena, band students took part in several activities beside the prestigious Rose Parade. These included trying the popular In-N-Out Burgers, visiting Universal Studios, performing at Disney Land, touring the Santa Monica Pier and meeting students from other bands from around the world, including Japan.
Clover LEAF was proud to help sponsor the band's amazing trip with a special grant of $5000. Dr. Catherine Myrick, LEAF VP-Grants, is seen here on one of the days it wasn't raining proudly wearing her Clover LEAF badge as she watches the band perform at one of the many events held as part of the festivities.
Donate Today!
Please join us in our exciting and worthwhile endeavor, where each individual, including YOU, becomes a valuable gem in our ever-growing treasure chest – the Clover LEAF. Throughout the school year, our dedicated officers and committees will be actively disseminating newsletters and event updates, providing you with insights into our integrity, ongoing initiatives, and the ways in which you can contribute to Clover LEAF's mission of bolstering educators and students within the Clover School District. Your participation and support are essential to our collective success, and we look forward to sharing this inspiring path with you.
This past year we received a record number of grant proposals – 72. Due to your generosity, the Grants Committee elected to fund 24 of those totaling over $20,186. Pictures of the grant winners receiving their Big Checks and an abstract of their projects are under Grants on our website, www.cloverleafsc.org, on our Facebook page, Clover LEAF – South Carolina and in Volume 3 Issue 5 of Clover LEAF newsletter.
Your generous donation to Clover LEAF will support academic excellence by making a meaningful difference for educators and students. Please make checks, corporate matches or other gifts payable to Clover LEAF and mail them to:
Clover LEAF, Inc
604 Bethel Street
Clover, SC 29710
You may send your donation via Zeffy by clicking the button below. Thank you for your support!