CBL Charitable Foundation has awarded $10,000 higher education scholarships to three local students to be applied to the 2021 – 2022 school year.
Greer High School senior Franchesca Araya is receiving the Robert F. Williams Scholarship, named for a past CBL Board Chairman and member of the South Carolina State Board of Education. Araya will be attending the Honors College at College of Charleston and is studying to become a speech pathologist. Araya was an honors student and part of Greer Jr. Cotillion, Teacher Cadet, named Senior Beauty and the 2021 GHS Homecoming Queen. “The beginning of this year was hard with virtual learning, but it became easier over time. I feel like I missed out on a few things my senior year, especially football, but I remained happy in spite of it all,” says Araya.
Blue Ridge High School senior Heather Cox is receiving the Citizens Building and Loan Charitable Foundation Scholarship. Cox will be attending North Greenville University in the fall majoring in Early Childhood Education and plans to remain local to the Greenville area. Cox was a BRHS cheerleader, an honors student, named the 2021 BRHS Homecoming Queen and served as the Student Body Vice President during. “Even though this unique time has been hard, my friends have stayed the same and the Lord worked everything out. I know that my job is to just stay faithful to His plan,” Cox says.
Landrum High School senior Clayton Simpson is receiving the Citizens Building and Loan Charitable Foundation Scholarship. Simpson will be attending Clemson University in the fall majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Simpson was an honors student at Landrum High in the Beta Club and a star athlete in Track and Field. Simpson broke the school’s 27-year-old discus record for longest throw. “I think that the hardest part of navigating 2020/2021 was missing out on track my junior year. Track is what I will miss most from high school,” says Simpson.
“CBL believes in education and community, and we know that there is no better way to build leaders than to invest in our own. These seniors led by example and kept their head up as they navigated many changes to graduate, and we want to wish them much success, ” says Jennifer T. Jones, President & CEO of CBL.
The CBL Charitable Foundation Higher Education Scholarships target deserving students graduating in the Greater Greer and Landrum area. Scholarship money is sent directly to the winner’s institution of choice to help offset tuition costs. Students interested in applying will find the application information with their school guidance counselor. Applications are due by March 31 of applicants’ senior year.
