About Our Scholars | Southern Scholars

OUR SCHOLARS

We are incredibly proud to recognize each of our scholarship recipients! To date, we have a total of four incredibly impressive Scholars: Ms. Jaela Tyler and Ms. Kalia Glover are our 2020 winners and Mr. Larry Sanders and Ms. Sheila Serrano-Flores are our 2019 winners. Jaela, Kalia, Larry, and Sheila 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. 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.

Larry Sanders presented with the 2019 Dr. Doretha Pressey Scholarship while working at McDonald's

Missed our 2020 Live Scholarship Winner Announcement Event?

Watch it now!

On Saturday, August 1, 2020 Southern Scholars Initiative announced the winners of our 2020 Scholarships during a live virtual event. Our 2019 Scholars, Larry Sanders and Sheila Serrano announced our 2020 winners, Ms. Jaela Tyler and Ms. Kalia Glover. The event was co-hosted by our board chair, Mr. Robbie Pressey and Snow Pressey, our Program Coordinator. Our board members, supporters, and school-based partners also made special appearances throughout the event. Please enjoy a clip of the moment our 2020 Scholars were announced. To view the recording of the entire event, follow this link and use the password 'scholar20' when prompted. Please don't forget to join our mailing list so that you can get invites to our upcoming events!

This incredible event was also featured in the Times and Democrat Newspaper. To read the beautifully written story, follow this link.

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 JAELA, KALIA, LARRY AND SHEILA.

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