Clarendon County nonprofit receives $30,000 grant from Power:Ed to support virtual reality career exploration for youth and adults
SUMMERTON, SC – September 3, 2026— BRAVO Education Foundation of Clarendon County (BRAVO), has been awarded a $30,000 grant from SC Student Loan Corporation through its philanthropy, Power:Ed, to launch “Empowering Clarendon”, a program that integrates cutting-edge Transfr Virtual Reality (VR) technology into the Adult Ed Center's Career Hub and middle school Global Career Development Facilitator curricula.
This immersive platform lets rural adult learners and youth complete interest assessments, experience hands-on career simulations, and build foundational technical skills. By mapping local manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare vacancies to bite-sized digital credentials, the program eliminates career blind spots, stops local "brain drain," and equips learners for lucrative local careers. It improves education by introducing immersive, technology-driven career pathways to dismantle systemic economic barriers in Clarendon County. Currently, low educational attainment and wages create a disconnect between local learners and modern employers.
“The goal for 'Empowering Clarendon' is clear: create an innovative, scalable solution to local career readiness challenges. This grant from Power:Ed allows us to turn that vision into reality. Integrating Transfr's Trek platform into the Adult Education Center and Scott’s Branch Middle School’s established GCDF curriculum creates a seamless pipeline from education to employment. Bravo is thrilled to partner with these two schools and Transfr to launch this pilot program and look forward to the lasting economic impact it will bring to the Clarendon community,” said BRAVO’s Founder and President Maureen Calvo.
She added, “Your zip code shouldn't limit your opportunities. Our students deserve access to the absolute best tools available. This technology can immerse them in virtual high-demand industry experiences, igniting a passion for innovation and equipping them with the tangible skills needed to thrive in tomorrow's economy. I am so excited at the prospect of observing a student put on a VR headset and seeing that absolute wonder and inspiration when they realize a high-tech career is completely within their reach.”
The Adult Education Center and middle school GCDFs, in partnership with the Bravo Education Foundation, will implement a structured evaluation plan to measure program success, track learner progress, and support continuous improvement. Ms. Calvo is very hopeful that “if this pilot is successful, then we have a firm framework to support expansion into the other middle schools.”
“SC Student Loan and Power:Ed and are proud to support Empowering Clarendon and are excited by the transformative impact this program can have. If you see it, you can be it! All South Carolinians should have the opportunity to succeed, and we want to do our part to help reduce barriers and help folks thrive in school, work, and in life,” said Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons.
In FY2026-27 Power:Ed will award $1,425,000 in grants to South Carolina education and career readiness nonprofit organizations. In this first quarter, Power:Ed has awarded nine grants (including this grant to BRAVO) totaling $527,000. Grants are administered quarterly, and the next grant funding deadline is October 1, 2026.
About BRAVO Education Foundation of Clarendon County
Founded in 2023, the mission of BRAVO is to empower a historically underserved rural community by promoting and supporting equitable, high-impact innovative educational initiatives and other enhanced learning opportunities for all students that address the needs of the “whole” child, thereby fortifying the county’s classroom to career pipeline. Since that time, over 20 teachers across 10 schools in Clarendon have been funded through their signature Teacher Innovative and Service-Learning Grant program. If you want to know more about these grant winners and their innovative ideas, in addition to how and when to apply for a grant, visit https://www.bravoedfoundationofccsc.com.
About Power:Ed
Founded in 2019, Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan, is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth and adults by supporting low-income, underrepresented, and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities. Nonprofit organizations serving middle school through post-college talent interested in applying for a grant or partnering with Power:Ed, should visit power-ed.org.