HTC’S REEL Kids Program Celebrates 25 Years of Honoring Exceptional Students

Recognizing A Quarter Century of Resilience, Leadership, and the Power of Perseverance Among Our Community’s Youth.

 February 3, 2025, Conway, S.C. – HTC, the nation’s largest telecommunications cooperative, proudly marks the 25th anniversary of its REEL Kids program in 2025. Since its launch in 2000, the program has celebrated the courage, determination and achievements of local students who have overcome significant challenges while exemplifying leadership, positivity, and resilience.

The REEL Kids program, an acronym for Recognizing Extraordinary Examples of Leadership, honors students nominated by educators and coaches across Horry, Georgetown, and Marion counties. Each year, these nominations highlight youth who have faced obstacles such as health challenges, family hardships, or personal struggles but remain beacons of hope and inspiration in their schools and communities.

When the REEL Kids program first began, it was focused on students from Horry County Schools. Over time, the program grew in scope and impact, becoming a cherished tradition within the community. The success of the REEL Kids program stems from HTC’s deep commitment to honoring the cooperative’s values of care and connection. HTC employees dedicate countless hours to organizing nominations, coordinating production for the video stories and planning the awards event, ensuring every REEL Kid feels celebrated and valued.

“The REEL Kids program is a very meaningful initiative for HTC, and celebrating its 25th anniversary is a truly special milestone for our Cooperative, community and most importantly, the REEL Kids who’ve been honored throughout the years,” said Sandy Hendrick, HTC Marketing Manager. “This program holds a unique place in our hearts because it goes beyond recognition – it’s about telling the powerful stories of students who have faced unimaginable challenges and still emerged as leaders and role models.”

As the program has expanded, so have the events that celebrate these incredible young leaders. HTC works behind the scenes to craft personalized recognition experiences, celebrating each honoree’s unique story. Each selected REEL Kid is featured in a professionally produced video segment that shares their journey, achievements, and inspiring message. The program culminates in an annual awards ceremony where students and their families gather to celebrate these remarkable young leaders.

Videos highlighting each 2025 REEL Kid can be viewed by visiting https://www.htcinc.net/htc-reel-kids/.

The awards ceremony originated as a sit-down, banquet style event with continued evolution as time passed and participation increased. However, like so many events, the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges. Determined to keep the program alive and meaningful during unprecedented times, the Cooperative reimagined the event, focusing on creating a more personalized and fun experience for the honorees. This not only allowed HTC to continue celebrating these remarkable students, but also sparked innovative ideas for the program’s future.

For the past three years, HTC has hosted the awards ceremony at Ripley’s Aquarium, creating a magical and memorable experience for the honorees and their families. However, as the program grew, it became clear that a larger venue was needed to accommodate the increasing number of participants and guests. This year, the ceremony will move to Medieval Times, providing an exciting new backdrop for what has become one of HTC’s most treasured events.

“Medieval Times is the perfect location for our REEL Kids Celebration,” said Molly Klein, HTC Marketing Coordinator. “A knight has a code of chivalry. The values of that code include courage, honor, courtesy, loyalty, and service. These are the same values that describes a REEL Kid.”

As the years have progressed, so has the scope of REEL Kids. In 2021, the program honored forty-four students, but the following year, HTC expanded eligibility to include students from Georgetown and Marion County Schools. This decision led to a significant increase in participation, with fifty-eight students celebrated in 2022, 72 in 2023, and 85 in 2024. So far in 2025, 83 students have already been nominated and selected to be honored. Since the inception of the HTC REEL Kids program, more than 1,200 students have been recognized.

Learn more about HTC, including the Cooperative’s commitment to the area, visit www.htcinc.net.

About HTC

HTC is the largest telecommunications cooperative in the United States. Celebrating more than 70 years as the local leader in communications, HTC provides services in Horry, Georgetown, and Marion counties. Utilizing the area’s most extensive fiber optic network, HTC service offerings include Internet; Video; Security; Mobile; and Voice. HTC also offers advanced business services, including Internet; Voice and Hosted Voice Solutions; IT Solutions such as Wi-Fi, Data Backup & Recovery and Firewalls; and Business Security. To learn more about HTC, visit www.htcinc.net. For additional information about HTC or becoming a member, call 843-365-2154.

###

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up to 500
Mbps
Starting At
$49
95**

MO

Up to 750
Mbps
Starting At
$59
95**

MO

Up to 1 GIG     
Starting At
$74
95**

MO