Clementa Pinckney.
The Coastal Community Foundation announced 10 recipients Tuesday of the inaugural Reverend Pinckney Scholars Program.
The $3.2 million fund, established by a group of anonymous donors who were moved by Charleston’s response to the June 17 shooting at Emanuel AME Church in which Pinckney and eight others were killed, is dedicated to promoting access to higher education for African-American students.
The students will receive about $80,000 and supportive resources during their college careers, according to a news release. Their career goals vary from journalism to nursing, politics to physical therapy and counseling in the juvenile justice system.
“After meeting many of the scholarship finalists, I am confident that our first group of recipients will honor the best of Reverend Pinckney’s legacy and all who lost their lives at Mother Emanuel last June,” said Darrin Goss Sr., president and CEO of Coastal Community Foundation.
“Their commitment to leadership and dedication to our community will carry them far in college and life.”
The scholarship recipients (with high school and planned college choice) are:
Monejah Black, Charleston Charter School for Math and Science (Winthrop University)
Altoria Brown, Gordon H. Garrett Academy of Technology (North Carolina A&T State University)
Christian Carter, Battery Creek High School (North Carolina State University)
Brian DeLesline, Baptist Hill High School (Charleston Southern University)
Natrese Dorsey, North Charleston High School (Georgia State University)
Carmen Hamilton, Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School (Charleston Southern University)
Kayla Hasty, Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School (South Carolina State University)
Henry Jones, Beaufort High School (University of South Carolina Upstate)
Kierra White, R.B. Stall High School (Spelman College)
Denzel Wright, Baptist Hill High School (College of Charleston)
The Coastal Community Foundation serves Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry and Jasper counties.
