HERITAGE CLASSIC FOUNDATION AWARDS 11 SCHOLARSHIPS TO AREA SENIORS

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC (March 10, 2023) – Eleven outstanding Beaufort County seniors have been named Heritage Classic Foundation scholars for the 2022-2023 school year. The students come from seven different high schools and one is home schooled.

Seniors in all Beaufort and Jasper County high schools were eligible to apply and applications were reviewed on the basis of academic success, community service, essays written by the student and financial need. Thirteen finalists were interviewed by the Scholar Committee, the two not selected were awarded a one-time $2,500 grant.

During Friday’s awards presentation, Heritage Classic Foundation Scholar Committee Chairman, Scott Richardson told the audience, “This is always an exciting day for the Heritage Classic Foundation. We believe the resumes of these young adults are better than ever. The teachers and administrators of our school systems, as well as the award winners, deserve special praise.” Richardson also pointed out, “You are not just straight A students. You are leaders in your schools, communities and churches. Your interests vary from volunteerism to sports to caring for the elderly.”

Six of the newly named Scholars will receive a $16,000 scholarship over the next four years. Four additional awards carry a $20,000 opportunity. Two of the latter scholarships honor Scholar Committee chairmen who have passed, John Zimmerman and Mike Malanick. One honors the late Scholar Committee member Charlie Brown, and the Tartan Club Award recognizes the donations made by the Tartan Club. Created by the Heritage Classic Foundation, the Tartan Club is a group made up of individuals throughout the community who share a desire to help others through the awarding of scholar grants for area students.

The Kirby Scholarship, a one-year $4,000 scholar award, was created in memoriam of past Scholar Committee chairman Ward Kirby and will be granted every year moving forward. Two additional students will receive a one-year $2,500 award.

Next fall, a total of 41 Beaufort County collegians will be attending school and will have received Foundation grants at an expenditure of $200,000. A grand total of $5M will have been awarded to 375 students after the 2023 distribution.

In addition to these eleven scholarships, the Foundation is funding four $2,500 annual scholarships to the University of South Carolina Beaufort and two $1,500 annual scholarships to the Technical College of the Lowcountry.

The following graduating seniors were selected:

Battery Creek: Ella Gordon
Beaufort Academy: Benjamin Steen
Beaufort High School: Megan Alvarez, Susan “Elizabeth” Livesay
Heritage Academy: Kellen Kubec
Hilton Head Island High School: Cynthia Gudaitis, Benjamin Lewis, Laurel Hawkins
Hilton Head Preparatory School: Emma “Hayes” Wilkinson
John Paul II Catholic School: Samantha Reilly
Homeschooled: Levi Bates