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Effingham students attend Summer Leadership Camp
boyscamp
Staff Report
Updated: Jun 22, 2017, 8:38 PM
Published: Jun 22, 2017, 8:39 PM

COVINGTON – This summer, 57 students from the Effingham County High School, South Effingham High School, Ebenezer Middle School and Effingham County Middle School FFA Chapters attended Summer Leadership Camp (SLC) at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington, on the banks of Lake Jackson.

Each summer, the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center hosts six weeks of Summer Leadership Camp for high school and middle school students involved in chapters of Georgia’s FFA and FCCLA youth leadership programs. Teachers bring their students to the week-long camp, where they participate in leadership programming designed to build relationships, develop teamwork and leadership attributes, and most importantly, have a great time! Activities include team and individual competitions, dances, the mega slide, the blob, swimming, ropes course, shooting sports, crafts, horseback riding, a muddy obstacle course, and more!

This year’s theme for Summer Leadership Camp was “SLC Unlimited”. Led by the idea that ‘you don’t get to decide how your story begins, but you do get to decide how it ends’, students were challenged to discover their unlimited future. This theme guided the programming for the week, including skits, challenges, and nightly reflections.  

Over the course of the six weeks of Summer Leadership Camp, the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center hosted more than 3,300 students, advisors, and guests. Driven by the purpose of investing in the lives of every camper that comes through the gate, the summer was full of fun, new experiences, and life-changing growth.  

The students from  Effingham County  attending camp included: ECHS students Alyssa Almerigotti, April Williams, Austin Beard, Avery Tucker, Colby Beard, Emily Roberts, Erik Robinson, Evan Lastinger, Francesca Stasolla, Jaylin Coleman, Josephy Lay, Julia French, Alexis Jacques, Katie Duncan, Kaylei Howe, Madison Smith, Mathew Holton, Megan Deyhle, Katlyn Davis, Phillip Babin, Rebecca Shea, Trevin Moore, Zachary Harvey, Jessica Wall, Hunter Holloway, Dillon Pippin, Samone Heyward, Olivia Summerlin, Gavin Dixon, and Emily Smith; SEHS students Matthew Nease, Garrett Cook, Braden McGrath, Sheridan Strickland, Micah Wood, Logan Collins, Katlyn Davis, Hope Norris, Lacy Hively, Dalton Brewster, and Cameron West; EMS students Breanna Harris, Haleigh Sewell, Ronan Foster, Isabella Ramos, Trey Smith, Austin McMahon, Luke Plant, Chaslyn Walker, and Connor Menefee; and ECMS students Cassie Sheppard, Colby Malphus, Deena Diaz, Garret Joyner, Shayne LaBonte, Shayne Stickland and Collin Thomas.                           

A special thanks to those who provided scholarships for students to attend Summer Leaderhsip Camp. Donors include: Effingham County FFA Alumni, Dasher Insurance Company, Senator Jack Hill, and Mr. Bob French.      

“Summer Leadership Camp is a unique experience for students that is full of fun and memorable activities,” Camp Manager Russel Towns said. “But the ultimate goal is to provide the atmosphere for teachers and students to connect in such a way that teachers can better invest in their students year-round.”
Volunteers hold 'Demo Party' to help Rincon Woman Rebuild Storm-Damaged Home
Miss Peggy
Matt Evans, owner of Centaur Home Renovations, consults with volunteer Janel Kearney while directing the demolition process. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)
Mya Taylor
Updated: Aug 28, 2025, 3:11 PM
Published: Aug 28, 2025, 2:43 PM

RINCON, Ga. — Volunteers attended a “demo party” over the weekend to help demolish the interior of 82-year-old Miss Peggy’s home, which was left severely damaged by a storm years ago.

A gloomy forecast and threat of rain did not deter the group from working. When the seven volunteers arrived, they were greeted by Centaur Home Renovations owner Matt Evans, who is leading the renovations. Masks, trash bags and tools were handed out as music played from a large speaker and fans helped keep volunteers cool in the summer heat. Orange arrows painted on the walls directed workers to the areas slated for demolition.

Miss Peggy
Leigh Carter strips wallpaper as part of the interior demolition of Miss Peggy’s home during a community ‘demo party’ in Rincon. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)

Leigh Carter, the first to arrive, was one of several who stripped walls and tore out drywall. Carter’s efforts go beyond renovations — she has also driven Miss Peggy to doctor’s appointments and helped her get rehoused last week at Family Promise of Effingham after a brief displacement.

“We want to get Miss Peggy back home in a safe place to live,” Carter said.

Volunteers spread out through the home, removing damaged drywall and hauling debris to a dumpster in the driveway.

“I decided to join because I thought helping somebody would be a good thing to do,” volunteer Sydney Kearney said. “I just thought it would be nice to volunteer.”

Miss Peggy
Grayson Heaton uses a crowbar to help remove damaged walls during the volunteer demolition day. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)

Repairs underway
Michael’s Roofing of Meldrim completed the first major repair by rebuilding and installing a new roof. The previous roof had been damaged by a fallen tree, which led to water leaks, mildew and mold spreading through the home.

Now Evans and Centaur Home Renovations are leading the next phase of work. Evans joined volunteers in the demolition and said community support has been growing since news of Miss Peggy’s situation was first reported in the Effingham Herald. 

“Since the article was first published, we’ve gotten quite a few reach-outs from people willing to donate their time,” Evans said. “We’ve also had four different dumpster companies donate dumpsters for the cause as well.”

Community organizations are also pitching in. Family Promise and the Manna House Food Pantry and Thrift Store have pledged to provide furniture and other materials once renovations are complete.

The most recent setback came when the septic tank lids collapsed, causing the system to stop working. Evans said crews are now cleaning the tank and clearing the lines.

Miss Peggy
Benny Carter tosses an old mattress into a dumpster as part of cleanup efforts at Miss Peggy’s storm-damaged home. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)

What’s still needed
“After the demo is completed, we can start looking for more materials we’ll need like lumber, drywall, paint, flooring and more to get the house back together,” Evans said.

Additional materials still needed include:

  • 25 2x4x8 studs

  • Four sheets of OSB sheathing

  • Twenty 12-foot deck boards (5/4)

  • Twelve 12-foot sheets of sheetrock

  • 36-inch vanity

  • Two toilets

  • Four ceiling fans

  • Two bathroom fans

  • 60-inch vanity

  • 60-inch fiberglass tub and surround

  • 60-inch fiberglass shower and surround

  • 1,600 square feet of LVP flooring

  • 36-inch exterior door

  • Rolls of drywall tape

  • Buckets of drywall mud

  • Bags of 20-minute drywall joint compound

  • 100 linear feet of baseboard and quarter round

  • 10 gallons of Kilz or Cover Stain

  • 10–12 gallons of white paint

There is no estimated timeline for completion, as more funds and supplies are needed. The GoFundMe campaign for Miss Peggy’s home renovations has raised more than $1,400.

Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/help-ms-peggy-return-to-a-safe-home.

Miss Peggy
The interior of Miss Peggy’s home shows ceiling stripped and debris cleared in preparation for renovations. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)