Marlboro Academy’s Sumner McLaurin Named “NETC” Female Student Athlete of the Month
Larry Gamble
HSSR, Photography Editor
Bennettsville — Sumner McLaurin is a senior who plays volleyball and soccer at Marlboro Academy.
McLaurin said she started playing volleyball in the seventh grade, which is her favorite sport, and she also began playing soccer in the 9th grade. Being a two-sport student athlete, McLaurin said,” My favorite part is being on a team with friends.”
After high school, she plans to focus on education, and she will pursue a degree in health sciences. Her first choice for college is Clemson and possibly playing at the club sport level.
Taking two classes from two schools, plus sports, she had this to say about making it work; “It helps me with planning my study time, and practice time,” she said. “Taking online courses from the “NETC” helped me to develop my time management skills.” McLaurin’s has done well managing academics and athletics in her life and she currently carries a 5.220 GPA.
For all her athletic and academic accomplishments, McLaurin has been chosen the “NETC” Female Student Athlete of the Month.”
This honor is bestowed through a partnership between the Northeastern Technical College and “The High School Sports Report” with the publication communicating with athletic directors at high schools in the counties of Dillon, Marlboro, and Chesterfield, where NETC serves the needs of high school students seeking to earn dual credits in various subjects that can be transferred to colleges after a student’s high school graduation.
The “NETC” is currently offering over 44 online dual credit courses for the 2025-26 school year to students in the three counties they serve. Currently, McLaurin is enrolled in two dual credit online courses offered by NETC. She started taking classes in her junior year. She has already completed many basic requirements for her freshman year of college like Spanish and English. She says she took Music Appreciation first to get an idea about the online learning experience.
When asked about how the “NETC” experience helped prepare her for the next step in her education, she said, “Taking NETC classes helped my communications skills with my professors, and introduced me to the stricter schedule of college and to complete the work on time.
“The class experience with NETC was good and I have really good professors,” said McLaurin. “They helped me learn how to prepare my assignments, follow the discussion boards, and improve my ability to communicate at the college level. By taking these NETC online classes I will be well ahead towards my major in college.”
With all the demands for her time, between academics, sports, plus family and friends, McLaurin said, “Setting priorities is a must; school first, Marlboro Academy classes, practice, NETC classes are next, then making time for family and friends. It helps that a lot of my friends are on the volleyball team.”
Nearly have way through her senior year, McLaurin was asked to reflect on a memorable moment she had experienced in sports. “At senior night, we played Lee Academy, and the game was about the great teamwork and friends on the team. I really enjoyed the camaraderie and sportsmanship of team play this season.”
