Free Tuition is Here
Central Carolina Technical College Announces Free Tuition
Sumter, S.C. – During a press conference Thursday morning, January 21, Central Carolina
Technical College announced a new scholarship initiative that provides the first two years at
Central Carolina Technical College tuition-free. The first of its kind in South Carolina, Central
Carolina Scholars is an economic development tool for existing and new industries and will
afford expanded higher education opportunities to high school students in Clarendon, Kershaw
Lee and Sumter counties. It is a pipeline to boost the region’s skilled workforce and an
affordable start for students on track to a four-year college or university.
Central Carolina Scholars is the result of a partnership between Central Carolina Technical
College; all public and private high schools in Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties;
cities of Camden and Sumter; Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter County Councils; and
various corporate sponsors.
The pilot initiative was introduced in 2011 and successfully culminated in 2015. Enrollment
numbers doubled and the scholarship initiative proved successful for both the College and the
community. “Our region of South Carolina is committed to joining the nationwide trend to
provide a tuition-free higher education option for local high school students, and a trained and
ready workforce for economic development in our four-county service area,” said CCTC’s
President Tim Hardee.
CCTC continually strives to expand its commitment to providing students with tools for success.
This scholarship is another opportunity to help students achieve their goals. Central Carolina
Scholars is designed to place local students, directly out of high school, onto the path of higher
education or employment.
Students eligible for the scholarship must: be in the graduating class of 2016, 2017, 2018 or
2019; graduate from a high school in Sumter, Kershaw, Clarendon or Lee county; test into
college level coursework through ACT, SAT or CCTC placement exam scores; present a final
high school transcript showing graduation date and minimum GPA of 2.0; begin taking classes in
the summer or fall semester immediately following high school graduation; and complete the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year.
The scholarship covers tuition only and will be provided for the duration of one program of study
for up to two years.
(From Left to Right): Dr. James C. “Jimmie” Williamson, President and Executive Director of SC Technical College System; Cheryl Stanton, Executive Director, SC Department of Employment and Workforce; Alfred Mae Drakeford, Chair, Santee Lynches Regional Council of Governments; Dr. Tim Hardee, President, Central Carolina Technical College; Adrienne Fairwell, Director, Marketing and Communications, SC Department of Commerce; and Dr. Frank Morgan, Superintendent, Kershaw County School District, all spoke this morning at a Press Conference announcing SC’s first tuition-free scholarship, CCTC’s Central Carolina Scholars.