Coastal Community Foundation announces 2021 Rev. Pinckney Scholars

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Press Release

Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina is pleased to announce the 2021 Rev. Pinckney Scholarship recipients, who represent the largest class of Pinckney Scholars yet.

The scholarship program was established at Coastal Community Foundation by anonymous donors for African American students from Beaufort, Charleston and Jasper counties in the wake of the Emanuel AME Church tragedy six years ago. The program is named after Rev. Pinckney, one of the nine victims, a former state senator and senior pastor of the church who cared deeply about education.

The Rev. Pinckney Scholarship Program provides promising students with financial support as well as regular supplemental programming throughout college to enhance their academic and professional development.

The Rev. Pinckney Scholars of 2021 are listed below by county. Further details about each student are attached. The Foundation also recently released a video of the students reacting to the news that they had been awarded the scholarship, which can be found at this link on the Coastal Community Foundation YouTube channel.

Beaufort County

Kevona Young: graduated from Whale Branch Early College High Schools, attending Clemson University

Charleston County
Sadayah Brown: graduated from Porter-Gaud High School, attending Howard University

Eric Center: graduated from Early College High School, attending the University of South Carolina

India Crawford: graduated from James Island Charter High School, attending Washington University

Kyra Freeman: graduated from St. John’s High School, attending Claflin University

Jalah Hill: graduated from West Ashley High School, attending The University of South Carolina – Upstate

Cameron Jones: graduated from Charleston County School of the Arts, attending The University of North Carolina

Yorasia Randall: graduated from Charleston County School of the Arts, attending Winthrop University

Naia Roper: graduated from Ashley Hall, attending College of Charleston

Anyjah Sally: graduated from Academic Magnet High School, attending: Howard University

Arianna Williams: graduated from James Island Charter High School, attending Francis Marion University

Jasper County

Hannah Reilley: graduated from Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School, attending Clemson University

Jordyn Robinson: graduated from Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts & Sciences, attending Winthrop University

Richland County*
Eliana Pinckney: graduated from Dreher High School, attending Temple University

* While the Rev. Pinckney Scholars Program was created at CCF by anonymous donors in 2016 for African-American students of Beaufort, Charleston and Jasper counties, CCF is honored to include Rev. Pinckney’s daughter, Eliana Pinckney, who lives in Richland County, in this year’s class of Scholars.

Students qualify to apply for the Rev. Pinckney Scholarship Program if they are accepted into and complete the Rev. Pinckney College Readiness Program, which begins working with students in their junior years of high school to help them prepare for, research, evaluate and ultimately select which college is right for them.

Inspired by the proven success of these two programs, another group of anonymous donors decided in 2020 to invest in the programs, expanding the opportunities to students in Colleton and Hampton counties and significantly increasing the number of students served in Beaufort and Jasper counties as well.

Now, up to 40 students will be able to participate in the Rev. Pinckney College Readiness program each year across all five counties. Beginning in May 2022, the students who complete the program will be eligible to apply for one of 16 Rev. Pinckney Scholarships. The new investment means the programs will be able to serve 60% more students each year overall.

“This new class of Rev. Pinckney Scholars is our largest class yet, and we are grateful for the support of generous donors who allow this program to continue to grow,” said CCF Director of Grantmaking and Scholarships Caroline Rakar. “We have seen each of these bright and promising students shine while working with them throughout the College Readiness program, and we know they will continue to do great things throughout college as Rev. Pinckney Scholars.”

The 2021 Rev. Pinckney College Readiness cohort includes eight students from Beaufort County, 21 from Charleston County, one from Colleton County, four from Hampton County, and three from Jasper County. Applications for high school juniors to be considered for the next cohort are expected to be opened in October.

Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create vibrant communities by uniting people and investing resources across Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry and Jasper counties. Through our tools for long-term charitable giving, we help individuals, families, businesses and organizations be the reason why communities thrive in the nine counties we serve along South Carolina’s coast. To learn more, visit coastalcommunityfoundation.org or call (843) 723-3635.

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