A diagonal split-screen image. On the left, a young woman with glasses and a yellow cardigan stands beside a white, vertical hydroponic garden tower filled with leafy greens and small orange flowers. On the right, an older man in a suit and yellow tie stands between two young students in a classroom setting. The boy on the left wears a blue suit and bowtie, while the girl on the right wears a black jacket; both children have teal ribbons pinned to their clothes that read "Docent."

FROM NEW FOUNDATIONS TO AEROPONIC GARDENS, CONGRESSMAN JOE WILSON SAW FIRSTHAND HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE GROWING AT BELVEDERE ELEMENTARY AND SOUTH AIKEN HIGH!

Aiken County Public School District

March 23, 2026

It’s not every day a member of Congress walks the halls, but last Friday, March 20, Congressman Joe Wilson and Councilman Byron Thomas (District 2) did exactly that! The pair spent their time touring Belvedere Elementary and South Aiken High School to witness the exciting modernization and student-led innovation taking place across the Aiken County Public School District.

The morning kicked off at Belvedere Elementary, where the group joined Hood Construction to walk through the massive 15,000+ square foot expansion. With a modern dining cafeteria, new kitchen, and a connecting multipurpose gym on the way, the "Old Belvedere" is getting a major upgrade. 

The highlight? A student-led tour! Four amazing Belvedere Bears and Principal, Allyson Richards-Long,  guided the Congressman through their art projects, including a special class assignment by Art Teacher, Mrs. Robinson. It was a full-circle moment at Belvedere! Two members of the Congressman’s team, both proud Belvedere Bear alumni, were ecstatic to walk the halls where their journeys began. Adding to the excitement, Councilman Thomas surprised a longtime friend in her classroom, leading to a heartwarming reunion and a very big hug!

The energy shifted to agriculture in the afternoon at South Aiken High School. Principal Sam Fuller and FFA teacher Ms. Altringer introduced the group to the future of farming: vertical aeroponic tower gardens. These students are growing fresh food in a classroom without a single scoop of soil!

The group then moved beyond the classroom to tour the outdoor garden beds and discuss the  expansion planned for the FFA program. This project features a new workshop and classroom space, complemented by a greenhouse and the addition of a much needed agriculture field, which will provide students with the space they need for large-scale, hands-on agricultural training.

This program thrives thanks to grants, State and District funding, along with generous donations from friends like the Aiken County Farm Bureau. 

From "Worm Days" at Millbrook Elementary to qualifying for state conventions, our FFA students are truly "growing" the leaders of tomorrow.

We extend a huge thank you to Congressman Wilson and Councilman Thomas for spending the day with our students and staff!