Horry Telephone Cooperative’s 2013 REEL Kids proved themselves through scholastic, athletic and community achievements while facing various trials. On May 23, HTC’s CEO Mike Hagg placed medallions around the necks of 50 REEL Kids from first to 12th grades during an awards ceremony at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes.
The event theme was “Fly Without Wings,” and the featured speaker was Jessica Cox, who was born without arms and is the first armless person to get a pilot’s license. Using her feet as hands, she learned to fly, swim, drive, surf and scuba dive. A college graduate, she lives independently.
“Walls are only there to stop the people who don’t want it bad enough,” she said.
Benjamin Taylor, a North Myrtle Beach High senior, and Gabby Papamichael, a Myrtle Beach High senior, received Presidential Scholarships of $500 per semester for two years from Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
