Grads earn nearly $9 million in scholarships

Ledger photo / SCOTT POWELL Gaffney High seniors use their high school graduation programs as fans in attempt to get relief from the scorching temperatures Thursday evening at W.K. Brumbach Stadium. Multimillion dollar scholarship totals have become a rite of passage for Blacksburg and Gaffney High graduation classes over the past decade.

This year's senior classes graduated Thursday with nearly $9 million in college scholarship money over the next four years.

This year's Gaffney High senior class will receive $7.1 million in scholarships over a 4- year period. Blacksburg High graduates were offered $1.7 million in scholarships.

Gaffney High Principal Marlene Davis and Blacksburg High Principal Jim Touchberry announced the scholarship totals during the graduation ceremonies. Both schools expect the amounts will increase as additional scholarships are awarded this summer.

This is the sixth consecutive year a Gaffney High graduating class has qualified for more than $5 million in scholarships. The school's 2006 graduation class earned a record-high of $10.9 million.

Gaffney High had 386 seniors graduate at W.K. Brumbach Stadium. Blacksburg High had 103 seniors participate in its commencement ceremony in T.A. Campbell Stadium.

Most students received the traditional South Carolina High School Diploma after earning 24 units and passing the state exit exam. More than 300 seniors completed career portfolios to receive the district's employability diploma.

Gaffney High valedictorian Madison McCraw and salutatorian Hannah Wood spoke at graduation after finishing with the highest grades in the senior class.

Blacksburg High had its top four graduates speak. They were Hannah Byars (valedictorian), Chase Fowler (salutatorian), Alicia Smith and Crystal Starnes.

The Blacksburg and Gaffney High graduating classes had large numbers of students eligible to receive 4-year South Carolina LIFE scholarships. Students attending a 4-year instate college can receive up to $5,000 annually.

To receive a LIFE scholarship, high school seniors must rank in the top 30 percent of their class, have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and score at least 1,100 on the SAT.

Gaffney High had 181 students receive South Carolina LIFE scholarships this year. Blacksburg High had 57 seniors eligible for LIFE scholarships.

Twelve Gaffney High students received the state's prestigious Palmetto Fellows scholarships. These scholarships are worth $6,700 per year and are awarded for a maximum of four years.