South Carolina – Senior South Carolina high school students are reminded to apply for the Ride of Your Life Scholarship provided by the South Carolina State Fair as the deadline is fast approaching. Now in its 28th year, the annual scholarship program will take applications through March 15, 2025; applicants are urged to submit their forms online at the official fair website, scstatefair.org/scholarships.
The South Carolina State Fair has revealed an increase in its scholarship offers, which raised enthusiasm among candidates. The fair will grant 53 scholarships this year—an increase from past years—thanks in great part to major financial support from Circle K stores and EMC Tickets.
Read also: New housing development in Columbia to boost homeownership opportunities with affordable housing
The fair has added three more scholarship options thanks to Circle K’s kind donation of $37,000, therefore proving the community’s dedication to education.
The General Manager of the South Carolina State Fair Nancy Smith expressed gratitude to everyone for their cooperative work.
“Education is at the heart of our mission at the South Carolina State Fair, and we are honored to support students in their journey toward higher learning,” Smith said in a release sent to Florence News Journal.
“Thanks to the generosity of Circle K and EMC Tickets, we’re able to expand our scholarships and provide even more opportunities for South Carolina’s students. With the March 15 deadline approaching, we encourage all eligible high school seniors to apply and take advantage of our Ride of Your Life Scholarship program.”
Read also: Columbia’s historic Cottontown neighborhood celebrates art, culture, and community at annual event
For students seeking four-year degrees, each scholarship recipient will receive a total of $10,000, distributed as $2,500 per academic year over four years. Those registered in two-year programs will also get $2,500 annually for two years. At any approved South Carolina university, funds can be used for tuition, books, computers, even on-campus housing.
Candidates have to satisfy specific requirements covering academic performance, extracurricular activity participation, communication skills, and financial need. In order to continue getting the scholarship funds, recipients must keep at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and enroll in at least 30 credit hours year.
The Ride of Your Life Scholarship has grown to a one of the community outreach activities of the South Carolina State Fair since its founding in 1997. More than $5 million in scholarships have been given to students throughout the state over the past 28 years, therefore attesting to the fair’s dedication to education and community growth.
Read also: Free virtual workshops aim to equip Florence business owners with essential financial tools
Parents and students eager to find out more about the scholarship should visit scstatefair.org/scholarships or personally contact Betsy Cooper, the fair’s scholarship coordinator, at [email protected] or by phone at 803-799-3387, extension 110. Mid-May, just in time for graduation celebrations, scholarship recipients will be formally informed of their rewards.
The South Carolina State Fair will take place from October 8–19, 2025. Originally set up in 1869, the fair operates as a self-sustaining 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to honoring the agricultural legacy of South Carolina and aggressively promoting educational programs around the state. Apart from scholarships, the fairgrounds are a popular spot for activities all year long, therefore supporting the cultural and educational foundation of the region.
With only a few days left before the March 15 deadline, South Carolina seniors have a valuable opportunity awaiting. The Ride of Your Life Scholarship might just be the ticket to fulfilling their higher education dreams.
