Copied from Publisher Spotlight, printed in April 2023.Written by: Samantha Gerke (3rd person introduction)Samantha is a resident of Walterboro, SC who relocated from New Jersey in 2017 for the southern heat and hospitality. In the five years that she has been here, she has enjoyed researching and exploring what South Carolina has to offer. Samantha has attended and participated in many events, and she is hopeful to become more involved in the planning and execution of community events. In the past, she has enjoyed participating in the local Walterboro Running Club and volunteering at a couple of events with the Colleton County Animal Shelter. She frequents the Colleton County Memorial Library with her son and scavenges for new and invigorating reading material.Samantha’s personal passions are: holistic health, fitness, music/entertainment, and animal welfare. She heavily incorporates this into her daily life and is continually researching how to increase accessibility for others who may enjoy similar things. It is her intention to increase involvement and visibility in the community. One hope that Samantha has for Colleton County is to see increased accessibility to programs and events for children of all ages.Samantha has been a teacher of English and Special Education for 11 years, a small business owner for 2 years, and she has recently joined our publication. Her participation in each entity is fueled by her desire to further promote local education initiatives, collaborate with businesses, and increase public engagement. She believes her best approach is to always take on the role of a student, constantly learning and exploring the new and unfamiliar. With her enthusiasm to learn, she intends to spotlight our wonderful community throughout our future publications.