College-bound students and their families gathered at the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund’s Celebration Summit on Sunday to be recognized for their achievements and to forge meaningful new connections.
The Scholarship Fund strives to be more than financial support, and the Summit empowered recipients and their supporters to broaden their network by interacting with others in the Scholarship Fund community.
“The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund is more than a scholarship, and today proves it,” said Josh Bell, president of Beemok Education, which manages the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund. “The Celebration Summit honors students for all they have overcome and achieved while equipping them with tools and resources for the journey ahead. It’s incredible to see how this Scholarship is changing students’ lives now and for generations to come.”
The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund was founded in 2021 by philanthropists Ben and Kelly Navarro. With the addition of visionary donors such as Darla Moore, Jessica and Todd Aaron and Dave Proctor, the Scholarship has expanded to 12 counties and has a goal of serving all 46 in South Carolina.
The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund offers up to $40,000 for college to high-achieving students with demonstrated financial need. More than 900 students have received the Scholarship, and donors have committed to supporting $36.3 million in scholarships. There’s no limit to the number of scholarships that are granted annually; any student who meets the five eligibility criteria qualifies.
One of the highlights of the Celebration Summit was a speech by Amber Tindal, a native of Clarendon County who just finished her freshman year at Claflin University. Tindal shared a moving story about her father dying when she was a baby and how his legacy has motivated her to work hard in school.
She thanked the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund’s supporters for believing in the possibility that she and other recipients can change the world.
“Together, we’ve learned that our potential is limitless when we support and uplift one another,” she said.
