Mary Bramlett Elementary student Alexandra Wyatt waits for a pitch from Gaffney High student Eboni Wafford on Friday while playing softball in an afterschool program run by the Upstate Boys & Girls Club. Mary Bramlett Elementary has been through a lot of changes since being named a Palmetto's Finest school 20 years ago.

One thing which hasn't changed is the recognition and pride veterans like Mary Bramlett Elementary Principal Dr. Zara Barnhill feel when recalling the experience of being chosen one of the state's top two elementary schools during the 1985-86 school year. She was among the staff members present when the school received the award from the S.C. Association of School Administrators.

"Many of the faculty went down to Hilton Head for the award ceremony," Barnhill said. "It was a wonderful experience."

Barnhill is one of nine people at Mary Bramlett Elementary now and during the Palmetto's Finest 1985-1986 school year. They include Elaine G. Fowler, Alice G. Higgins, Lynn C. Martin, Ann T. Scruggs, Mary V. Turner, Charlotte Hartman, Cheryl M. Allison and cafeteria manager Inez McCluney.

The Palmetto's Finest recognition occurred during Barnhill's final year as a teacher at Mary Bramlett Elementary. She spent 11 years as J. Paul Beam Elementary principal and three years as Grassy Pond Elementary principal.

Barnhill has spent the past five years of her 37-year education career as Mary Bramlett Elementary principal. She will retire at the end of the school year.

"Mary Bramlett Elementary has a way of taking you into its heart," Barnhill said. "You come to love the school and want to see the students grow."

Innovative programs are one of the factors involved in winning Palmetto's Finest.

Those programs have changed at Mary Bramlett Elementary over the years to reflect the different needs of students.

In February of 1986, thenprincipal Frank Sarratt touted a computer lab with nine computers supervised by a parent. Today, Mary Bramlett and other county schools have multiple computer labs with hundreds of computers.

Alcoa Home Exterior Inc. has 20 employees who visit Mary Bramlett Elementary every day to read to students for 30 to 40 minutes. The activity is one of several ways the company is supporting the school through a high-performance partnership.

Mary Bramlett Elementary has partnered with Upstate Boys & Girls Club to provide an after school program. It provides homework assistance, a snack, education programs and recreation activities.

The after school program has grown from 40 students in October to its current enrollment of 80 students.

Assistant principal Brian Linder said the school hopes to offer the after school program year-round for students.

"We hope to take students to Gardner-Webb College at least three times during the year so they can get an idea of what life is like in college," Linder said. "We would like to hold a summer camp and take some students to watch a college football or basketball game one weekend."