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South Carolina State Fair Opens Applications for 2023 College Scholarships

CRBR Biz Wire //February 6, 2023//

South Carolina State Fair Opens Applications for 2023 College Scholarships

CRBR Biz Wire //February 6, 2023//

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“Charleston, South Carolina, USA – March 28, 2012: Students walk between classes through the middle of the College of Charleston campus late on a Spring day”

Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina State Fair, a self-supporting 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is now accepting applications for its 26th annual Ride of Your Life Scholarship program, which awards $300,000 in college scholarships to high school seniors across South Carolina each year. Applications will be open until March 15, 2023 and can be completed at scstatefair.org/scholarships.

“Our mission at the South Carolina State Fair is to support the best of our state, and that starts with educating our young adults and helping them better their futures,” says S.C. State Fair General Manager Nancy Smith. “Supporting education is a big part of what we do, and we look forward to continuing our commitment to giving back and creating opportunities for our state’s students.”

Since 1997, the S.C. State Fair has awarded more than $4 million to South Carolina students through the Ride of Your Life Scholarship program. The scholarship program is an example of one of many community initiatives the S.C. State Fair supports throughout the year.

“Growing up with dreams and aspirations of my own — I always dreamed of going to college, escaping my hometown, furthering my education,” says Sheridan Carpenter, Ride of Your Life Scholar. “With the Ride of Your Life Scholarship, I am able to do that. It gives opportunities to children who may not have been able to go on and do the things they’ve always dreamed of.”

This year, scholarships in the amount of $6,000 will be awarded to 50 high school seniors across South Carolina and will be paid out at $1,500 per year over four years. Students pursuing two-year degrees will receive $1,500 per year over two years.

The scholarship funds must be used at a South Carolina university, college, or institution and may cover tuition or other educational expenses such as on-campus housing, a computer, or textbooks. Scholarships are awarded based on academic and extracurricular achievement, communication skills, need and completeness of the application. Recipients must retain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and enroll in no less than 30 credit hours each academic year to receive funding for that year.

Prospective scholars and/or parents can learn more at scstatefair.org/scholarships or by contacting Betsy Cooper at betsyc@scstatefair.org or 803-799-3387, ext. 110. Scholarship applications must be completed online at https://www.scstatefair.org/scholarships/ by March 15, 2023. Scholarship award recipients will be notified in mid-May of their award status.

This year’s S.C. State Fair will take place October 11-22, 2023.

The South Carolina State Fair, a self-supporting 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was organized in 1869 and is dedicated to preserving and promoting South Carolina’s agricultural roots while supporting statewide education. In addition to the 12-day South Carolina State Fair, the charitable organization manages annual football parking, is a popular event venue and hosts Carolina Lights — Columbia’s downtown drive-through light show. The South Carolina State Fair has awarded more than $4 million in scholarships since 1997.

More information can be found at SCStateFair.org.

Facebook: South Carolina State Fair | https://www.facebook.com/SCStateFair/

Twitter: @SCStateFair | https://twitter.com/SCStateFair

Instagram: @SCStateFair | https://www.instagram.com/scstatefair/

Hashtag: #SCStateFair

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU1Lr5weLGE

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