At the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund's annual Celebration Summit on Sunday, some of the more than 600 newest recipients learned to break through the beliefs that hold them back. Then they broke something physical: wooden boards symbolizing those beliefs.
It was a powerful moment at the Summit, which gathered Scholarship recipients from across the state. The annual event empowers students with the mindsets needed to be successful in college and provides them with an opportunity to build relationships with hundreds of their college-going peers.
“Days like today make me incredibly optimistic about the future of South Carolina,” said John Huber-MacNealy, managing director of the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund. “These students work hard and dream big, and the Scholarship gives them momentum to take the next step on their educational journey. A college degree without the burden of significant debt allows students the freedom to invest in their futures rather than spend years paying for their past.”
The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund was founded in 2021 by philanthropists Ben and Kelly Navarro. With the support of visionary donors, including Darla Moore, Susu and George Dean Johnson, Jr., Jessica and Todd Aaron, Doug Buckminster, Dave Proctor and others, the Scholarship is available in 14 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 2,100 students have received the Scholarship, and donors have committed to $87 million in scholarships. There’s no limit to the number of scholarships that are granted annually; any student who meets its five eligibility criteria qualifies. Applications for the 2026-27 school year are open until June 19.
One of the highlights of the Celebration Summit was an inspirational speech by Rani Hameid, a Scholarship recipient, West Ashley High School graduate and Clemson University alumnus.
Hameid now is working for Kimley-Horn, one of the top engineering firms in the country. He shared some of his college experience with the newest recipients, encouraging them to choose the harder path.
“Believe in yourself, and know that the donors who generously fund this Scholarship believe in you, too,” Hameid told students. “That’s why they do this - to give all of us an opportunity to change our lives for the better. So challenge yourself to grow and make the most of the experiences ahead.”