SCAC Awards 13 Scholarships to High School Seniors Throughout the State

The South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC) has award 12 Board of Directors Scholarships and one Presidential Scholarship to graduating high school seniors in counties around the state. The number of scholarships awarded increased to 13 this year. Five were given in 2024. 

The SCAC Scholarship Program includes the Presidential Scholarship, which is awarded to a student from the home county of the Association’s current president, and 12 Board of Directors scholarships, which are awarded to students from different counties chosen in rotation. Each scholarship is a one-time, $5,000 award. 

SCAC President William Robinson hails from Allendale County, and the other 12 scholarships were designated for students from Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Charleston, Chester, Edgefield, Hampton, Lee, Sumter, Union and York counties. 

“The SCAC Scholarship program is an important way our organization demonstrates its commitment to education and gives back to the counties we serve,” said Robinson, Allendale County Council chairman. “We are especially excited to have expanded the program recently to reach more students and offer the opportunity to all 46 counties in the next four years.”    

In addition to meeting this year’s county residential requirement, students must also attend a two-year or four-year South Carolina college or university as a freshman during the 2025 fall semester. A selection committee chooses recipients based on an essay, grades, school activities and community involvement. This year’s scholarship recipients are: 

• Arianna Priester of Allendale Fairfax High School, Allendale County 
• Alejandro Colon-LaBorde of Aiken High School, Aiken County 
• Ian J. McLeod of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, Bamberg County 
• Faith J. Irons of Willston-Elko High School, Barnwell County 
• Ayla Speicher of Bluffton High School, Beaufort County 
• Ana R. Etnoyer of James Island Charter High School, Charleston County 
• Kinsley Price of Great Falls High School, Chester County 
• Hartley Byrd of Strom Thurmond High School, Edgefield County 
• Ashley M. Phillips of Hampton High School, Hampton County 
• Carmen K. Bates of Lee Central High School, Lee County 
• Camryn L. Wilmes of Wilson Hall, Sumter County 
• Sha’Kirra Eison of Union County High School, Union County 
• Michael Davis of Rock Hill High School, York County