OUR SCHOLARS
We are incredibly proud to recognize each of our scholarship recipients! To date, we have a total of eight incredibly impressive Scholars who fully embody Southern Scholars Initiative's three core principles of education, determination, and generosity and we know they will continue to make us proud throughout their college journeys. Congratulations, Scholars!
MS. NIANNE RIVERS
2021 Recipient of the Dr. Doretha Pressey Scholarship
Nianne is a recipient of the Dr. Doretha Pressey Scholarship. She will be awarded a total of $18,000 over the course of four years. Nianne will be attending Clemson University this fall where she plans to study Philosophy. After graduation, Nianne will study law, become a defense attorney, open her own practice, and fight for the wrongfully convicted. Nianne is particularly interested in fighting against racial injustice and discrimination within the legal system.
MS. BREVIN SAMUEL
2021 Recipient of the Dr. Doretha Pressey Scholarship
Brevin is a recipient of the Dr. Doretha Pressey Scholarship. Like Nianne, she will be awarded $18,000 over the course of four years. Brevin will attend South Carolina State University this fall and will study Industrial Engineering Technology. While her ultimate goal is to become an industrial engineer, Brevin is also deeply committed to helping those in need and plans to open a business in her hometown so that she can provide members of her community with jobs.
MS. ISHA PATEL
2021 Recipient of the Mrs. Clara Mae Coleman Prize
Isha is a recipient of the Ms. Clara Mae Coleman Award. She will be granted up to $12,000 over the course of four years. Isha will attend The University of South Carolina in Columbia this fall. After graduation, Isha is laser-focused on attending dental school and becoming a dentist. Isha’s desire to become a dentist is rooted in her love for helping others and she is looking forward to using her skills to make her patients smile and give them confidence.
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MR. JORELL BANKS
2021 Recipient of the Mrs. Clara Mae Coleman Prize
Jorell is a recipient of the Ms. Clara Mae Coleman Award. He will be awarded up to $12,000 over the course of four years. Jorell will attend Clemson University this fall where he plans to study political science and public policy. After graduating, Jorell will become a human rights attorney. Staunchly committed to helping others and making a lasting difference in this world, Jorell also has strong political ambitions and will run for office one day soon.
MS. JAELA TYLER
2020 Recipient of the Dr. Doretha Pressey Scholarship
Jaela Tyler is the 2019 recipient of the Dr. Doretha Pressey Academic Scholarship. Jaela will be attending Clemson University this fall and she plans to study Animal and Veterinary Science. Jaela is committed to becoming a veterinarian and opening a veterinary practice in her hometown of Denmark, SC. Throughout her high school career, Jaela was an honor roll student, captain of the cheer-leading team, and a an active volunteer in her community. Jaela was selected for this award because of her impressive academic record and her commitment to giving back to her community. Jaela will be granted an $18,000 award over the course of four years.
MS.KALIA GLOVER
2020 Recipient of the Dr. Doretha Pressey Scholarship
Kalia Glover is the second recipient of the 2020 Dr. Doretha Pressey Academic Scholarship. Kalia will be attending Claflin University this fall and she plans to study Biochemistry. After graduating from Claflin, Kalia plans to attend medical school and become an anesthesiologist. Throughout her high school career Kalia was an honor roll student, a scholar athlete, and a member of the STEM club. She did all of this while also maintaining part-time jobs. Kalia was selected for this award because of her impressive academic record, her strong work ethic, and her ambitious goals and determination to make those dreams come true. Kalia will be granted a $12,000 award over the course of four years.
MR. LARRY SANDERS
2019 Recipient of the Dr. Doretha Pressey Scholarship
Larry Darnell Sanders, Jr. is the 2019 recipient of the Dr. Doretha Pressey Academic Scholarship. Larry will be attending South Carolina State University this fall and he plans to study Mechanical Engineering. Throughout his high school career Larry was an honor roll student, a scholar athlete, and a member of the STEAM club. He did all of this while also maintaining a part-time job. Larry was selected for this award because of his impressive academic record, his strong work ethic, and his very moving essay. Larry will be granted an $18,000 award over the course of four years.
MS. SHEILA SERRANO-FLORES
2019 Recipient of the Mrs. Clara Mae Coleman Prize
Sheila Serrano Flores is the 2019 recipient of the Mrs. Clara Mae Coleman Prize. Sheila will be attending the University of South Carolina at Aiken this fall and she plans to study Early Childhood Development. Throughout her high school career, Sheila was an honor roll student, a member of STEM club and a student artist. Sheila was selected for this award because of her impressive academic record and her strong desire to give back and help others. Sheila will be granted a $6,000 award over the course of two years.
A Special Southern Scholars
Surprise at Work!
Larry Sanders was not able to accept the Dr. Doretha Pressey Scholarship during his high school's awards ceremony, because he had to work his Friday evening shift at McDonald's. Because we so admire his work ethic and because we did not want him to miss out on such a special moment, the entire Southern Scholars team decided to surprise Larry by presenting him with the scholarship at his job. Watch as our Board Chair, Robbie Pressey shares the good news!
This incredible moment was also featured in the Times and Democrat Newspaper. To read the beautifully written story, follow this link.
WHAT OUR SCHOLARS ARE SAYING
“THIS SCHOLARSHIP WILL HELP ME BE MORE FINANCIALLY STABLE FOR MY FOUR YEARS AT SC STATE UNIVERSITY. THE MORE FINANCIALLY STABLE I AM, THE MORE I CAN FOCUS ON MY CLASSES."
LARRY SANDERS / SOUTHERN SCHOLAR
“THIS SCHOLARSHIP WILL HELP ME BY PAYING FOR PART OF MY TUITION. I DON'T WANT MONEY TO GET IN THE WAY OF MY DREAM OF GOING TO COLLEGE."
SHEILA SERRANO-FLORES/ SOUTHERN SCHOLAR
HELP US CONTINUE TO MAKE THE DREAM OF COLLEGE A REALITY FOR PROMISING SCHOLARS LIKE THESE.
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