Success Stories

Success Stories

With the program Grind Out, we produce virtue student athletes, college graduates, military members and more. These Success Stories represent the impact this program has on the local community of teens.  Grind Out and the Jackson Teen Center strives to show participants in the programs that they can be more than they ever thought they could be. Showing them their purpose, and helping to get them started on that journey is the main goal. The youth are our future, and we need them to be leaders in today's world. These stories are meant to be an inspiration towards other youth in the community and show them what you can achieve in life, just like these fellow participants in the Grind Out program.

Athletes

3 ball

            Gregory "GG" Jackson

Graduated from Ridge View High School. After playing basketball for USC, Jackson was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies, with the 45th overall pick. In the second round of the 2023 NBA draft #45.

McDonald’s All American Games Selects Joyce Edwards and Dylan Harper as the 2024 Morgan Wootten National Players of the Year

         Joyce Edwards

Graduated high school with a 5.7 GPA. She played Soccer, Volleyball, & Basketball. She volunteered at the Jackson Teen Center, as a Tutor for the youth. She is now currently, in her Freshman year at South Carolina University, as a D1 Athlete.

College Graduates

Left to Right: Lavonda Briggs (Wingate College) Ashaunti Sims (USC Columbia), Nehia Greene (Coastal Carolina), Amber Hadden (USC Aiken South Carolina)
Left to Right: Lavonda Briggs (Wingate College) Ashaunti Sims (USC Columbia), Nehia Greene (Coastal Carolina), Amber Hadden (USC Aiken South Carolina)
Jy-Nunley-Aaron-Anderson.jpg
Mashylla Murphy  Graduate of Aiken USC, now an intern at MUSC Florence SC.  Step Team/Keystone/JRT
Mashylla Murphy Graduate of Aiken USC, now an intern at MUSC Florence SC. Step Team/Keystone/JRT
Haveonna Greene  Graduated from Francis Marion University in December of 2020 and is now a Case Investigator for the SC Dept. of Social Services.  Works for JRT, Step Team, Keystone
Haveonna Greene Graduated from Francis Marion University in December of 2020 and is now a Case Investigator for the SC Dept. of Social Services. Works for JRT, Step Team, Keystone

Military Enlistments

Sgt. Ozarius Davis
Sgt. Ozarius Davis
Makaila Allen  Graduate of USC Columbia, now serving in the United States Air Force.  Keystone Club President
Makaila Allen Graduate of USC Columbia, now serving in the United States Air Force. Keystone Club President
Marcus Oliver  Mr. Claflin University and Claflin University Freshman of the Year. United States Army  JTC Keystone President 2016/2017
Marcus Oliver Mr. Claflin University and Claflin University Freshman of the Year. United States Army JTC Keystone President 2016/2017

Success Rate

The Jackson Teen Center is proud to have a 90% success rate in sending teens off from the program to bright futures in Sports, Military, College Graduates and Careers.