Fifteen Beaufort County Seniors Named Heritage Classic Foundation Scholars

Fifteen outstanding Beaufort County seniors were named Heritage Classic Foundation Scholars on Tuesday.

The Verizon Foundation awarded the Heritage Classic Foundation a $1.5 million three-year grant in 2011.  Half of the dollars support 12 nonprofits that focus on education, literacy and safety & health.  The other half is used to continue the Heritage Scholar Program.

In making the announcement for the Heritage Classic Foundation, Scholar Chairman Ward Kirby said, “This is always an exciting day for our Foundation.  We believe that the records of these young adults are better than ever.  The teachers and administrators of our school systems, as well as the award winners deserve special praise.”

Thirteen of the newly-named Scholars will receive an $18,000 scholarship over the next four years.  Two additional awards carry a $22,000 opportunity.  These latter scholarships honor the past Scholar Committee chairmen, John Zimmerman and the late Mike Malanick.

Next fall, 59 Beaufort County collegians will be receiving Foundation grants at an expenditure of $273,500.  A grand total of $2,724,500 will have been awarded to 237 students after the 2012 distribution since the program was launched in 1993.

Kirby pointed out at Tuesday’s luncheon, sponsored by Palmetto Electric Cooperative, “These scholars are not just straight A students.  They are leaders in their schools, communities and churches.  They have interests that vary from athletics to theater to music.”

The following graduating seniors were selected:

• Battery Creek High – Christopher Bockelman
• Beaufort Academy – Michael Bible, Katherine Neal
• Beaufort High – Malcolm Kates, Rachel Taylor
• Bluffton High – Jacob George, Jason Guo
• Hilton Head Christian Academy – Caitlyn Lankowski, Abbey Robinson
• Hilton Head High – Justin Shaw, Nicholas Zarra
• Hilton Head Prep – Marielle Alexander, Allison Frederick, Sarah Garratt, William Devin White

Highlights of this year’s Scholars:

• Marielle Alexander – The Valedictorian of her Hilton Head prep class, Marielle is planning to become a high school teacher.  She will enter Villanova University this fall.
• Michael Bible – This Beaufort Academy scholar plans to study chemical sciences working toward a degree in Pharmacology.  He plans to attend either University of Richmond or William & Lee University.
• Christopher Bockelman – The Salutatorian of his Battery Creek High class, Christopher will enter Newberry College in September.  He plans an aviation career in the Coast Guard.
• Allison Frederick – This Hilton Head Prep scholar plans on becoming a physician after studying Pre-Med at Davidson College.
• Sarah Garratt – Another outstanding Hilton Head Prep student is not certain of her major when she enters the University of Virginia this fall.
• Jacob George (ZIMMERMAN AWARD) – The Valedictorian at Bluffton High plans on a career as a Biomedical Engineer.  He’ll enter either the University of Texas at Austin or Cal-Berkeley this fall.
• Jason Guo – The Salutatorian of this year’s Bluffton High senior class, Jason plans a career in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University.
• Malcolm Kates – The Salutatorian at Beaufort High, Kates plans to become a radiologist, entering Duke or Emory in September.
• Caitlyn Lankowski – This Hilton Head Christian Academy student will major in scientific research at either Furman or Clemson.
• Katherine Neal – The Salutatorian of this year’s Beaufort Academy senior class, Katherine hopes to become a Veterinary Surgeon, studying at either Duke or the University of Georgia.
• Abbey Robinson – This Hilton Head Christian senior plans a nursing career.  She’ll enter Clemson this fall.
• Justin Shaw – This Hilton Head High scholar is hoping to enter the University of Virginia this fall where he’ll study Environmental Engineering.
• Rachel Taylor – Georgetown University is the next address for this Beaufort High Scholar who plans a career in International Law.
• William Devin White – The Salutatorian at Hilton Head Prep, White plans a career in Mathematics, studying at Clemson.
• Nicholas Zarra (MALANICK AWARD) – Hilton Head High’s Valedictorian will enter the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School to become an Economist.