Joy, pride and purpose filled the room Saturday at the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund’s annual Celebration Summit, a special event highlighting a transformative investment in the next generation.
The Celebration Summit does more than honor its 550 newest recipients; it creates a space for connection, inspiration and shared purpose. Students had the chance to meet fellow recipients, build relationships and hear advice on the journey that lies ahead.
“There are few places in America where a gathering like today takes place,” said Josh Bell, president of Beemok Education, which includes Meeting Street Schools and the Excellence in Teaching Awards. “The Meeting Street Scholarship believes in its recipients and their potential, and the opportunities it creates for students will strengthen our future and society itself.”
The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund was founded in 2021 by philanthropists Ben and Kelly Navarro. During the most recent school year, the Scholarship expanded to two additional counties – Spartanburg and Bamberg – because of visionary donors, Susu and George Dean Johnson, Jr., and Doug Buckminster, respectively. In total, 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 hard-working students with demonstrated financial need. About 1,500 students have received the Scholarship, and donors have committed to $60 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 2025-26 school year are open until June 20.
One of the highlights of the Celebration Summit was a speech by Gavin Hewitt, one of the Scholarship’s first graduates. Hewitt shared his college experience with the newest recipients, encouraging them to embrace challenges and get involved on campus. He thanked the Scholarship’s supporters for making it possible.
“This Scholarship gave me the chance to go to college without a huge amount of debt, and college has changed my life,” he said. “Thank you for giving me this life-changing opportunity.”