South Carolina Business Week Awards Scholarships to Bright and Deserving Students
July 29, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – July 29, 2009 – The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce three distinguished scholarship award winners from the 26th annual South Carolina Business week program, presented by the South Carolina Cable Television Association. Each year, Business Week offers bright young minds the unique opportunity to interact with business leaders and student peers to learn more about the ins and outs of the business world and a successful career.
During the 2009 Business Week, students had the opportunity to live on the Presbyterian College campus, which boasts 240-acres and includes five buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places. Presbyterian College offers a scholarship to any Business Week graduate that chooses to attend the college.
The following scholarships were awarded at the conclusion of 2009 South Carolina Business Week:
S. Hunter Howard Jr. Scholarship
Devin Tiernan, of Socastee High School, has been awarded the S. Hunter Howard Jr. Scholarship. The $5,000 award recognizes a Business Week student who consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership abilities and was introduced in 2008 in honor of S. Hunter Howard Jr., retired president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Tiernan may use the scholarship at the South Carolina college or university of his choice.
Tiernan is captain of the Socastee High School lacrosse team, a member of the National Honors Society, and he has completed more than 100 hours of volunteer service this summer alone.
In his Business Week application, Tiernan wrote, “Leadership is the ability to effectively influence people you work with for a cause or project.”
Ron McNair Leadership Award
Danielle Kutz, of Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, received the Ron McNair Leadership Award. This $3,000 scholarship, contributed by SCE&G, may be used at the South Carolina college or university of Kutz’s choice. Established in memory of Lake City native and astronaut Ron McNair, the Ron McNair Leadership Award recognizes a Business Week student who consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership abilities. At Northwestern High School, Kutz served as Senior Class Treasurer and National Honor Society Historian. In addition, she was on the Varsity Dance Team and in the Beta Club.
Her participation in the Rock Hill Youth Council helped initiate “Back the Pack,” a program to provide nourishment to impoverished children during times school is not in session, like weekends and holidays. In her Business Week application essay, Kutz wrote, “South Carolina’s economic well-being and business growth are dependent upon developing knowledgeable and skilled employees.”
Rawl Family Scholarship
Shaniqua Sellers, of Wilson High School in Florence, received the Rawl Family Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. The scholarship may be used at the South Carolina college or university of Sellers’ choice. Sellers is active on her school’s Improvement Council, the Key Club and Students Against Violence Everywhere. She also participates in an afterschool program where she tutors young students. In her Business Week application essay, Sellers wrote that she wishes to become a teacher and open a center to help youth accomplish their future goals.
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s first state chamber Accredited with Distinction by the U.S. Chamber, is the state’s largest statewide broad-based business and industry trade association representing more than 6,500 member companies and more than 600,000 member employees, with 90 percent of membership comprised of small businesses. As the unified voice for business and industry, the Chamber is a catalyst for increasing per capita income and enhancing the state’s global competitiveness in order to improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians.
