Power:Ed Awards Seven Grants Totaling $299,952
Columbia, S.C., June 8, 2022 — Power:Ed, a philanthropy of SC Student Loan, has awarded $52,500 to South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU), $39,900 to American College of the Building Arts (ACBA), $13,552 to University of South Carolina-Beaufort, $50,000 to Ground Zero, $50,000 to Communities in Schools of South Carolina, $50,000 to United Way of Greenville County and $44,000 to Carolina Youth Development Center.
South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) supports and promotes the values of independent higher education in SC. The $52,500 received will be awarded to independent junior and senior college students who are experiencing a gap in financing that may prevent them from returning to college for the 2022-23 academic year.
“At SCICU we are honored to be a Power:Ed grant recipient,” said Jeff Perez, SCICU President and CEO. “The Power:Ed grant will empower economically disadvantaged students to return to college and focus on their academic achievement undistracted by financial concerns.”
American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) is the nation’s only four-year college dedicated to educating classically trained artisans in the building trades. This in turn creates exciting pathways to quality workforce opportunities. The school fosters exceptional craftsmanship while encouraging preservation, enrichment and an understanding of the world’s architectural heritage. The grant will be used to upgrade equipment in the Classical Architecture and Design program.
“The acquisition of this scanner will allow ACBA’s Classical Architecture and Design students to create and electronically transfer their portfolios to potential externship companies and employers,” says Leigh Handal, ACBA’s Chief Advancement Officer. “It will also help students collaborate on projects as they can access documents simultaneously from multiple locations. They will have immediate access to educational resources and be able to search entire books within minutes. We are also excited about the scanner because it allows students to have access to information without having to carry and store heavy printed texts and can protect fragile documents from damage. And finally, rather than taking up space in traditional filing cabinets, thousands of documents can be stored on a single server, freeing up storage space for much needed instructional space as ACBA continues to grow and expand its programs.”
The University of South Carolina-Beaufort responds to the regional needs of the community and enriches the lives of their students and of area residents. The Mathematics Opportunities in the Summer Program is a free residential, academic summer enrichment program to support low-income and underserved high school students and to get them interested in critical problem solving and math.
“We, mathematics faculty at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), thank PowerEd for the generous support for our residential summer mathematics program for underserved high school students in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina,” said Dr. Volkan Sevim, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Program Coordinator. “This program will not only enrich and broaden participating students’ understanding of mathematics and provide them with college-ready and workplace-ready math skills, but it will also inspire and build their confidence so that they envision themselves as future college students or technical workers.”
Ground Zero is a place where every student can go, belong and grow. Through life-changing experiences and nurturing relationships, they make a positive impact in the lives of today’s teenagers cultivating their faith and transforming their futures.
“Ground Zero is thrilled to partner again this year with Power:Ed to serve middle and high school students in Myrtle Beach, SC. The partnership has provided resources for Ground Zero to build relationships and mentor many underserved, at-risk youth, while developing their character, leadership skills, and creating a place for every student to go, belong and grow,” said Scott Payseur, Ground Zero President and Founder. “Through this partnership we have implemented school assemblies and outreach events with nationally recognized speakers such as professional athletes, hosted job/career/college fairs, held special events such as block parties and holiday events, and served students weekly on Monday and Wednesday evenings with special programs. We can't wait to do this again with Power:Ed by our side.”
Communities in Schools of South Carolina supports student’s needs by empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through Power:Ed funding they will provide integrated student support programming at two critical need high schools in South Carolina.
“In the state of South Carolina more than half a million public school students live in poverty. At CISSC, we create access to the resources and support students need to overcome hurdles and achieve not only in their academic careers, but in life,” said Jamie Cooper, CISSC President and CEO. “Our work would not be possible without the support of funding partners like Power: Ed. Their investment in our Integrated Student Supports program will impact more than 2,100 students school-wide and provide one-on-one support for 100 students and their families through our Tier-III services. We are grateful to Power: Ed for helping us provide these services that keep kids in school and set them up for a lifetime of success."
United Way of Greenville County has a mission to improve lives, strengthen communities and advance equity for the benefit of all. Through their work, they will use the award to incentivize students through after-school instruction that promote hands-on skills for high-demand technical careers. Funding to support this project will expand career pathways through paid instructional hours.
“We are honored to receive this generous grant from Power:Ed in support of our work to improve economic mobility in Greenville County,” said Meghan Barp, United Way of Greenville County President and CEO. “With this significant investment, we will be able to provide more equitable access to career and technical certifications in our community, helping realize our vision of A Greenville County where all people have access to the opportunities to achieve their full potential.”
Carolina Youth Development Center in Charleston strives to empower and equip the community’s most vulnerable children by providing a safe environment, educational support and career readiness in collaboration with families and community partners.
"Thank you, Power:Ed, for this wonderful award,” said CEO Beverly Hardin. “Carolina Youth Development Center is proud to receive this support from Power:Ed to equip students who have been abused and neglected with the tools and supports that they need to progress academically, overcome unique challenges resulting from trauma and develop pathways toward adulthood and self-sufficiency. We are so grateful for this investment in our youth to give them hope for a brighter tomorrow.”
About Power:Ed
Power:Ed, a philanthropy of SC Student Loan is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth by supporting low-income, minority, and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities.
If you're interested in applying for a grant or partnering with Power:Ed, visit power-ed.org. The deadline for the next round of grant funding is July 1, 2022.