Home News EDUCATION FOUNDATION AWARDS THREE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

EDUCATION FOUNDATION AWARDS THREE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

7/24/2020

The Richland Two Education Foundation has awarded college scholarships to three recent graduates. The Stephen W. Hefner Scholarship, Debra W. Hamm Scholarship and Michael J. Lowder Scholarship are worth a total of $9,500.

The Stephen W. Hefner Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of former Richland Two Superintendent Dr. Stephen W. Hefner. The scholarship provides financial assistance to a worthy student each year to pursue their dreams of earning a college degree. This year, Spring Valley High School’s Vamsi Gorrepati was awarded the $5,000 scholarship.
Much like Dr. Hefner, Gorrepati enjoys giving back to his community. He won the National Eagle Scout Project of the Year award when he built a 2,500 square-foot playground for his temple which had over 300 children and no play area. He enlisted the help of fellow boy scouts to complete the project and they spent long weekends hauling wheelbarrows of dirt, digging trenches, and hammering rebar into the border-retaining-wall. Gorrepati will be attending Yale University and aspires to be a physician.

The Debra W. Hamm Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of the former Richland Two Superintendent. The scholarship provides financial assistance to a qualifying student to pursue their dreams of earning a college or associate’s degree. Blythewood High School’s Tillman Dillon was awarded the $3,000 scholarship.
Dillon is passionate about learning in the content areas of technology and engineering. He has packed his resume with learning experiences that include CIA STEM training in Virginia, and engaging in McNair Aerospace Center and the Go Fly Initiative at the University of South Carolina. He is proficient in Java, JavaScript, Batch-Cyber Security and other software. Dillon will be attending Clemson University.

The Michael J. Lowder Scholarship was established in memory of Michael Lowder who was a graduate of Spring Valley and Clemson University. Qualifying seniors in Richland Two who planned to attend Clemson were eligible to apply for this $1,500 scholarship. Conner Myrick of Spring Valley is this year’s recipient.
Myrick will be studying Biochemistry at Clemson this fall. His long-term goal is to work as an exotic wildlife veterinarian. He desires to work in a research zoo/rehabilitation center or on a reserve in another country. Myrick has spent many hours volunteering at Pawmetto Lifeline. He also spent summers as a frequent volunteer in the PRISMA Health Junior Volunteer program.