Presbyterian College’s Laurens County Service Scholars Program transforms lives in Laurens County
February 4, 2025At Presbyterian College, “While We Live, We Serve” isn’t just a saying – it’s a way of life that now opens doors for local students.
The Laurens County Service Scholars Program, an innovative scholarship program now in its second year, offers Laurens County, S.C., residents a transformative opportunity: a $30,000 annual scholarship in exchange for serving their community.
The program, which began as part of PC’s strategic focus on service, draws inspiration from the college’s founding principles.
“We were inspired by the founding story of PC growing out of the vision of transformational service at Thornwell,” said the Rev. Dr. Buz Wilcoxon ’05, the Marianne & E.G. Lassiter Chaplain & Dean of Spiritual Life.
“We drew on the words of the college’s founder, Dr. William Plumer Jacobs, who wrote in his diary, ‘I am in hopes that an avenue of usefulness is opening before me in the county…'”
Making a Difference Through Service
For students like freshman Gabby Helton, a graduate of Laurens District High School, this avenue of usefulness has become a pathway to both education and personal growth. At Clinton Canopy, she is helping clean green areas around Clinton. One of Helton’s projects has been cleaning up Miller’s Fork Park after the hurricane.
“The most rewarding aspect of volunteering so far has been meeting all the amazing people who are a part of Clinton Canopy and helping out my community by helping create and maintain green spaces,” Helton said.
In the Laurens County Service Scholars program, students complete 30 service hours per semester at approved partner organizations throughout Laurens County. Service opportunities span various areas of need, including youth and families, elderly care, healthcare, environmental conservation, food security initiatives, and local animal welfare.
Identifying Tomorrow’s Service Leaders
The Rev. Dr. British Hyrams, PC’s Jack and Jane Presseau Associate Chaplain, emphasizes that the program seeks two types of students: those with established service experience and those with untapped potential.
“The first are those with a proven track record in service, enthusiasm for service, and identify interpersonal leadership skills gained through their participation,” Hyrams said. “The second are those who may not have had the opportunity to serve but do have the interest, enthusiasm, and potential to be successful in doing so.”
The impact of the program extends beyond immediate service hours. For Helton, the experience has deepened her understanding of community needs.
“Since serving with Clinton Canopy, I now realize how beautiful the Laurens County community really is,” she said. “A lot of work goes into keeping an area beautiful, and I now know more about what it takes to maintain spaces in my hometown. My perspective about how much love and care goes into keeping Clinton beautiful has completely changed.”
Helton’s most memorable moments come from community service experiences.
“One of the most memorable experiences I’ve had was helping with a tree planting event at Millers Fork Park,” Helton added. “Clinton Canopy and outside volunteers planted almost 20 trees one Saturday morning. I felt very happy and satisfied about the work we did that day, and I greatly enjoyed interacting with members of Clinton canopy and outside volunteers.”
Building a Legacy of Service
Wilcoxon envisions the program creating lasting change in Laurens County.
“One of our hopes is that students who participate in the program while they’re in college continue to serve as leaders in service throughout Laurens County for years to come,” he said. The program aims to create a mentorship pipeline where older scholars can guide incoming participants.
The scholarship, which supplements other state and federal funding, makes higher education more accessible for local students while strengthening PC’s community ties.
“Hopefully the commitment to serve will endure for a lifetime,” Hyrams said. “The networking the students will find among the people they associate with in the service community will likely prove itself to be invaluable and support their professional aspirations.”
For Laurens County residents interested in combining their college education with meaningful community service, the program offers a unique opportunity to make a difference while making their educational dreams achievable.
The Laurens County Service Scholars program is cultivating the next generation of community leaders who understand that true education extends beyond the classroom into the heart of their community.
“We’re witnessing the formation of young adults who understand that true success is measured not just by personal achievement, but by the positive change they bring to their communities,” Wilcoxon said. “That’s the legacy we hope this program will continue to build.”