School District Five students create new light display for 2025 Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park

For Immediate Release – December 8, 2025

School District Five students create new light display for 2025 Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park

IRMO – Lexington-Richland School District Five students from multiple programs at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies have collaborated to design, build, and light a display for the Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission’s annual Saluda Shoals Holiday Lights on the River. This year, students completed a dunk tank scene featuring Santa’s elves.

The following instructors and programs from The Center participated in the holiday light display construction: Electrical Technologies (Jon Gray), Digital Art & Design (Jeanette Mangels), and Agriculture & Biosystems Engineering (Kevin Sox). The students were commissioned to conceptualize, design, create, and light the new display.

“The Dunk Tank Project is a powerful reflection of the dedication and creativity within our Digital Art, Electrical, and Agriculture programs,” said Career and Technical Education Assistant Director Roy Frick. “From early concept sketches to the final build, watching this idea come to life has been truly inspiring. Each year, our students raise the bar and exceed their own expectations. I’m deeply grateful to Ms. Mangels, Mr. Gray, Mr. Sox, and every student who poured their time, talent, and heart into making this project a reality."

In addition to creating the display, students from The Center for Advanced Technical Studies joined Saluda Shoals staff for their decoration day on November 3, 2025, to install ground lighting and signage throughout the park. Students from all School District Five high schools, including the FIVE virtual program, participated in the event: Sinnva Beard, Paula Benavides Ladino, Jamal Branch, Lukas Breslin, Derrick Carter, Ben Cayton, Harper Chaloupek, Layla Dennis, Mason Depasquale, Natalie DeSanto, Dawson Gantt, Kelly Graham, Madeline Heaps, Hailey Johns, Michael Koen, Sullivan Looney, Ellen McGee, Wyatt Peters, Jalyssa Pinckney, Jaiden Shiver, Patton Sowell, Elizah Sweat, and Jada White.

The Center’s display along with over 400 other animated displays, can be seen November 26, 2025 through December 31, 2025 during the Holiday Lights on the River event at Saluda Shoals Park. Visit https://www.icrc.net/ for more information.

The Center for Advanced Technical Studies in School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties serves students in all four district high schools and provides career-focused, high wage and high tech academic programs and courses to prepare students to be college and career ready upon graduation.

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