Spartanburg County Students to Benefit from Expanded Scholarship Program with $40 Million Donation

Spartanburg County Students to Benefit from Expanded Scholarship Program

Thanks to a whopping $40 million donation from Susu and George Dean Johnson Jr., more than 45,000 students attending public schools in Spartanburg County, South Carolina are set for a much brighter college future!

The generous donation was made to the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund, currently the largest in-state college scholarship program in South Carolina. In a joint statement, the Johnsons said, “Spartanburg is our home, and we are thrilled to support the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund’s expansion here. Education has the power to change lives, and this Scholarship will open doors for talented and deserving students across the county.”

Since it was launched in 2020 by Charleston philanthropists Ben and Kelly Navarro, the scholarship program has sought to close the gap between state-lottery funded scholarships and the real cost of a college education. Students can receive up to $10,000 per year towards their education. To put into perspective, the state lottery scholarship used to cover around 105% of a student’s tuition and fees back in 2002, but due to escalating college costs, that award now only covers 29%.

Enter the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund, now backed up by the Johnsons, as well as the Darla Moore Foundation and others. This fund now benefits students in 13 S.C. counties, with leaders hoping one day to expand this to all 46 S.C. counties.

A qualifying student’s view

Clemson religious studies major, Aaron Gillam, recently spoke about the importance of the scholarship to families like his that would find it hard to afford a college education otherwise. He shared the emotional moment when he and his mother learned what the scholarship would do. “I just looked at my mom and she and I both started crying,” Gillam said. Realizing this scholarship would relieve the stress on their family was a huge moment for them.

Meeting Street leaders are adamant that this is more than a financial aid. It’s about helping students thrive. Josh Bell, president of Beemok Education, which manages the scholarship, highlighted how they’re “building a network of students, families and community members who are committed to ensuring the success of our future leaders, innovators and change-makers.”

Other newsworthy state developments

Meanwhile, in other S.C. news, the state Supreme Court has decided to halt executions for the holiday period. Also, as the S.C. General Assembly prepares to reconvene in January, energy needs for 2025 are high on their agenda. The challenge to meet growing energy demands will be a focus for the state’s 170 members.

In the world of education, the state Department of Education is throwing nearly $2.00 million at public schools to lock away student cell phones during the day. Meanwhile, the serious issue of South Carolina’s teacher shortage is being tackled, with educators urging lawmakers to increase teacher pay.

As we move into the festive season, the sight of the S.C. Christmas tree at the Statehouse brought smiles, especially as the tree had survived Hurricane Helene. On a political note, meet Ed Sutton, Charleston’s newest state senator, securing his win in a recent election.

It’s a busy and exciting time for South Carolina, but let’s not forget the importance of these worthy students benefiting from the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund and the opportunities it affords them for a better future.