Lake Murray Elementary School named to SC School Improvement Council’s 2026 Honor Roll

For Immediate Release – February 16, 2026

Lake Murray Elementary School named to SC School Improvement Council’s 2026 Honor Roll

IRMO – Lake Murray Elementary School’s School Improvement Council (SIC) has been named to the South Carolina School Improvement Council’s (SC-SIC) Honor Roll for their “significant efforts to foster civic engagement in public education.”

Lake Murray Elementary’s SIC is one of 7 across South Carolina to make the Honor Roll SICs list.  These Honor Roll SICs will continue in the running for SC-SIC’s annual Dick and Tunky Riley Award for School Improvement Council Excellence.

“We are incredibly honored to be named an SIC Honor Roll recipient,” Lake Murray Elementary School SIC Chair Lauryn Harbour said. “This recognition reflects the collaborative work of our SIC, school leadership, staff, families, and community partners as we navigated challenges such as district rezoning, literacy growth, and supporting student well-being. Through initiatives like our cross-school transition planning, expanded literacy programs, and service-driven projects, our shared focus has remained on strengthening connections and ensuring every student feels supported and successful. This honor truly belongs to our entire Lake Murray Elementary School community.”

Created in 2002, the award is named for the former U.S. Secretary of Education and South Carolina Governor and his late wife, and recognizes the vital contributions made by more than 1,100 local SICs and their 11,000-plus SIC members across the state.

From this year’s Honor Roll, up to four (4) SICs with the highest combined scores from Levels One and Two will be selected to advance to the Winners Level. The recipient of the 2026 Riley Award will be announced at the SC-SIC Annual Conference scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026 in Columbia.

“I am deeply grateful for our SIC and the countless ways they support our school,” Lake Murray Elementary School Principal Kristen Eubanks said. “Whether through book drives, serving as mentors, tutoring students, or volunteering their time for schoolwide events, their dedication and heart for our students have made a lasting difference at LMES.”  

SC-SIC, part of the Center for Educational Partnerships within the University of South Carolina College of Education, has been a driving force in educational progress for nearly 45 years. The organization provides essential training, technical assistance, and operational support to help local SICs thrive in every corner of the state.

More information on SC-SIC, the Riley Award for School Improvement Council Excellence, and award winners from previous years can be found online at https://www.sc-sic.org/.

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