South Carolina – South Carolina’s long-running fair tradition is once again reaching beyond the midway, the exhibits and the fall crowds, this time by sending more than half a million dollars toward the next chapter of students across the state.
The South Carolina State Fair has announced the 2026 recipients of its annual Ride of Your Life Scholarship program, awarding 54 high school seniors scholarships worth $10,000 each. Altogether, the awards total $540,000 and will help students continue their education at colleges, universities and technical colleges in South Carolina.
“At a time when we are reflecting on the roots of our country, it’s especially meaningful to invest in students who are shaping what comes next,” said Nancy Smith, general manager of the South Carolina State Fair, said in a release sent to Florence News Journal.
“These students are grounded in resilience, purpose and a strong sense of where they come from, and we are proud to support their future endeavors.”
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The scholarship program typically provides 50 awards each year to students planning to study at an in-state public or private college, university or technical college. This year, however, the number grew to 54 after a $40,000 donation from Circle K and EMC Tickets allowed the fair to fund four additional scholarships.
Each scholarship is paid out in annual installments of $2,500. The awards are based on several factors, including academic and extracurricular achievement, communication skills, financial need and the completeness of each application.
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The 2026 group was chosen from a competitive field of applicants from across South Carolina. Recipients represent all seven of the state’s congressional districts, giving the program a statewide reach that reflects the fair’s broader mission of supporting education and community growth.
Students may use the scholarship money for tuition, as well as other approved educational costs, including on-campus housing, textbooks or a computer. To continue receiving the funding, recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and complete at least 30 credit hours during each academic year.
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The Ride of Your Life Scholarship program has been part of the fair’s educational work since 1997. Since then, the South Carolina State Fair has awarded nearly $6.5 million in scholarships to students throughout the state.
More information about the scholarship program is available at scstatefair.org/scholarships.
The South Carolina State Fair, a self-supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was organized in 1869 and remains dedicated to preserving and promoting the state’s agricultural roots while supporting statewide education. The 2026 S.C. State Fair is scheduled for October 15-25, 2026.
