Volume 4, Issue 2
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.
News and Events
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.
CMS 8th Grade Visit to NASCAR Hall of Fame
In preparing for the 2025 LEAF Gala, our team reached out to the NASCAR Hall of Fame (HOF) in search of unique auction items. That inquiry connected us with Angela Basso, Director of Revenue and Business Development, and Bethany Stowe, Foundation Manager at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. What began as a request for complementary tickets quickly grew into a meaningful conversation about educational opportunities for students in the Clover School District (CSD).
Not only did the NASCAR Hall of Fame generously donate four tickets for a Hall of Fame tour to support our auction, but Angela and Bethany also expressed a strong interest in building an ongoing educational partnership with CSD. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Foundation currently provides STEAM-focused field trips, summer camps, and hands-on workshops for students across the Greater Charlotte region—resources that align with the needs and goals of our educators.
Working collaboratively with the Foundation, Dr. Millicent Dickey, Chief Academic Officer for CSD, and Chenetra Brewington, Assistant Principal at Clover Middle School (CMS), coordinated an opportunity for CMS 8th graders to experience a field trip to the Hall of Fame. As the photos show, the students were fully engaged and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
About the NASCAR Hall of Fame Foundation
The NASCAR Hall of Fame Foundation is committed to expanding access to high-quality STEAM education. According to the Foundation:
- Its education program serves more than 21,000 students each year
- It reaches 64 counties across North and South Carolina, as well as all 50 states
- Programs support teacher objectives and extend classroom learning through hands-on, problem-based lessons aligned with state and national standards
- Real-world NASCAR applications help strengthen students’ understanding of STRE(A)M principles, build career awareness, and encourage independent learning strategies
This partnership represents an exciting new avenue for CSD students and educators, and we look forward to exploring additional opportunities with the NASCAR Hall of Fame Foundation.
Learn more about their work here: nascarhall.com/partner-with-us/hall-of-fame-foundation
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!