Myrtle Beach Middle School students learn about higher education at ‘Teal Tech Xperience’
By Drew Hansen and Allyson Bento
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. – With a goal to educate middle school students about higher education, Coastal Carolina University and Horry Georgetown Technical College kicked off the inaugural “Teal Tech Xperience.”
Over 300 eighth-grade students from Myrtle Beach Middle School toured CCU and HGTC campuses on Tuesday to learn more about the future of their education, an idea sparked by CCU President Michael Benson’s wife Debi. She said she wanted to teach their son, a student at MBMS about the opportunities of higher education in the county.
“You gotta introduce kids at a much earlier age to what collegiate experiences are available right here in our backyard so we came up with this idea of getting them to campus, have them eat a meal in our dining hall come on the teal turf,” said Michael Benson.
Exciting Experiences Await
Students had the opportunity to tour the campuses, eat in the dining halls, and capped off the day running through the tunnel onto the teal turf for an authentic CCU athletics experience. The CCU dance team and pep band greeted students as they made their way onto the field. While on the field the middle schoolers had the opportunity to meet with college athletes and even take pictures with mascots. Some even challenged CCU track athletes to sprint races.
Expanding Horizons
Debi and Michael Benson hope this new program will eventually expand to students across Horry County. “You can feel the excitement,” said Michael Benson. “It’s been a great day. As I said, this is the first we hope in many visits of other middle schools throughout the county.”
Memorable Keepsake
During the event, a group photo was taken and will be gifted to each student during their 8th-grade graduation.
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
