Program seeks to make gentlemen

By Jerry Halmon
Special to The T&D

It’s often said about our society today that “we raise our girls, but we love our boys.”

Believing that boys need the same nurturing and guidance that girls do to develop into successful adults, Willie Cam Nimmons, coordinator of The “Gentleman” Program and a retired educator and businesswoman in Bamberg County, got the idea to start a club that would address some of the many developmental needs of the young men in the area.

The program, which began in September 2006, was designed to start with a group of 10 selected male students in grades 7-9 to encourage them to complete high school and go on to some type of post high school education.

“The program focuses on the whole person in helping each one of them to develop the traits of a ’fine gentleman,’” Nimmons said.

Included in the program activities are:

  • Supervised homework after-school sessions which include tutoring and tips on improving study habits.

  • Counseling sessions conducted by trained counselors that cover career opportunities, conduct, proper dress, health habits, and work ethics.

  • Volunteer work.

  • Motivational sessions. One recent session featured Charles Austin, the Columbia city administrator.

  • Educational field trips to South Carolina State University and Voorhees College

  • Regular attendance at a place of worship.

  • Parental involvement.

    As an extra bonus for participating and being successful in the program, Nimmons has helped secure a job for each young man to work for one hour per week after school with a local business.

    The program is coordinated with Jerry Halmon, guidance counselor at Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, and Vernon Wallace and Runnelle Weeks, guidance counselors at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School.

    Rest in Beauty, B&B Meats, Fred’s, E-Z Shop, Cockrell and Associates, Thankful Baptist Church, Orange Grove United Methodist Church and Bamberg School District One have all lent their support to the program

    “Many of the teachers, parents and students have made positive comments about the program and this is a good sign,” Nimmons said.