Scholarships honor late senator

CCU established two new scholarships for the Fall 2015 semester that honor the memory of state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who was slain in the June 17 mass shooting in Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church.

The $2,500 scholarship will be awarded annually to one male and one female student from South Carolina’s District 45, which Pinckney represented in the state senate. The first recipients are Tiffany Dantzer and Nazair Wilson. The district includes parts of Allendale, Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. Approximately 340 current CCU students are from the district.

“Senator Pinckney worked hard to advance educational opportunities in his district and throughout the state,” says CCU President David A. DeCenzo. “He understood that education was the means to a better future for all South Carolinians, and he was dedicated to helping people achieve their dreams through knowledge.”

Eligibility for the Senator Clementa C. Pinckney Memorial Scholarship is determined by specific criteria, including demonstrated financial need and the maintenance of at least a 3.0 grade point average. The award can be renewed for up to four years.

“In the midst of this tragedy, Coastal Carolina University recognizes the work of Sen. Pinckney as an activist for justice and individual rights,” says Travis Overton, CCU’s vice president of student rights and responsibilities and the dean of students. “In honor of his service, this scholarship will assist students from District 45 to pursue higher education. The tragedy has affected several students in our community, and the establishment of this scholarship focuses on the true meaning of Sen. Pinckney’s work.”

For more information about the scholarship, contact CCU’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 843-349-2313 or email finaid@coastal.edu.