SC State Foundation receives $50,000 grant for student scholarships
ORANGEBURG, SC -- March 31, 2026 -- Power:Ed, the philanthropic arm of South Carolina Student Loan Corporation (SCSLC), has awarded the South Carolina State University Foundation a $50,000 grant to provide scholarships to 35 deserving SC State students who meet the university's requirements for financial support.
“Power:Ed and SC Student Loan Corp. are proud once again to support SC State University and its vital work to educate and build the next generation of South Carolina’s leaders,” said Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons. “This is the third grant awarded to support need-based scholarships for enrolled SCSU students to help them return and persist to graduation. We’re excited by what they will accomplish,” she added.
SC State Provost Dr. Frederick Evans, SC State Foundation Executive Director Lorne Steedley, and SC State Head Football Coach Emeritus Willie Jeffries, who also serves as a SCSLC board member, joined Gibbons last month for a check presentation on campus.
“We’re grateful for the financial support to ensure our students’ matriculation and academic success,” said Evans, who also serves as vice president of academic affairs at SC State.
High-achieving students at SC State University may face several disparities that prevent them from continuing their education. Some students are forced to disenroll because of an inability to pay student tuition.
SC State is dedicated to eliminating the challenges dealt by poverty through tuition scholarships. Providing scholarships assists in equipping students with the opportunities needed to excel in their educational pursuits while preparing them for entry into the South Carolina workforce.
“We’re just privileged to be able to work in partnership with such outstanding organizations like Power:Ed. We’re gracious for the opportunity to work with them to aid students in their academic aspirations,” Steedley said Tuesday.
“Power:Ed has been a vital partner for SC State in recent years. The organization’s generous support has helped the university retain students toward completing their degrees and fulfilling their promise as productive citizens,” SC State President Alexander Conyers said.
“I thank Ms. Gibbons, Power:Ed, and the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation for their support of SC State and our students,” the president said.
In FY 2025-26, Power:Ed will award $1.3 million in grants to South Carolina education and career readiness nonprofit organizations. In its third quarter, Power:Ed has awarded seven grants - including this SCSU grant - totaling $270,000. Grants are administered quarterly, and the next grant funding deadline is July 1, 2026.
About Power:Ed
Founded in 2019, Power:Ed, the philanthropic arm of SC Student Loan, is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth and adults by supporting low-income, minority, 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 who are interested in applying for a grant or partnering with Power:Ed, should visit power-ed.org.