Scholarships that aid in the cost of higher education can change the trajectory of a student’s life. Not only do they lessen the financial burden associated with college, but they also allow the student to focus more on school, and less on part-time work.

As the cost of higher education continues to rise, scholarships make college more affordable and increase the chances a student will be able to complete their degree. Michael Sauls, a current student at the University of South Carolina, received a scholarship through Central Carolina Community Foundation last year. He shared what the scholarship meant to him in a letter to the scholarship’s donor: “Scholarships help out a lot in this day and age, especially with ever-increasing amounts of student loans. By donating the money for this scholarship you’ve helped not only me but also so many other students who need all the help they can get when it comes to paying for college.”

Scholarships allow for more financial flexibility throughout college. By receiving a scholarship, it’s less time a student must spend working to pay for their education and more time focusing on earning their degree or developing their leadership skills through other activities such as volunteering, student leadership, and internships. One of the scholarships the Community Foundation offers, the Harmon Scholarship, covers full tuition costs for four years for a Clemson- or UofSC-bound student hailing from Sumter County. The scholarship allows students to not only go to school but also have a productive and pleasant experience. One of our past recipients of this scholarship said, “The Harmon Scholarship is one of those things in life that come as blessings, and I am very blessed to have this scholarship. I don’t have to worry about anything, just my school work and studies, and I cannot thank the donors enough.”

CCCF provides over 190 scholarship opportunities to students across South Carolina and the nation each year and has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships since 1998. The scholarships are established by generous donors committed to furthering the education of the next generation. Each scholarship has its own specific purpose and eligibility criteria according to the recommendations of the donor.

Students may apply for multiple scholarships by completing one online application and are automatically matched with scholarships for which they are qualified. Central Carolina Community Foundation scholarship applications are currently open and will close on March 5, 2020.

Click here to apply.

To learn more about scholarship opportunities, visit our website or contact Jamesha Shackerford at 803-254-5601 x301 or [email protected]