The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce awarded 75 Accelerate Greater Charleston (AGC) Scholarships on May 10 in front of a packed room of business and educational leaders, proud parents and family members and eager students. The scholarships fuel Career Academy graduates across the Charleston metro to continue their education by paying for two full years of tuition, fees and books towards an associate degree at Trident Technical College in one of the region's high demand sectors:

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
• Business and IT
• Culinary/Hospitality
• Health Sciences

The Chamber awarded the first 12 scholarships in 2014. In just two years, the number of scholarships awarded has grown by 525 percent. In total, 102 scholarships have been awarded, representing an investment of more than $330,000 into accelerating our region's talent pipeline. 

AGC's scholarship fund is targeted towards graduates of a Career Academy with a GPA of 2.0 to 2.9. These are students who do not qualify for the state lottery tuition assistant and often do not have the ability to pursue higher education on their own. Of the 75 scholarship recipients, 75 percent will be the first in their immediate family to graduate college.  

"These scholarships represent opportunity. An opportunity to gain the skills necessary to pursue a career in a high demand field, ensuring a secure future," said Bryan Derreberry, President and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. "With the Charleston metro gaining 20,000 new jobs in the next two years, they also serve as an opportunity for our region to develop local talent, producing and retaining the workforce needed for our ever growing job pool."

Kim Wilson, Principal of R.B. Stall High School said, "Eleven of our students are going to receive scholarships today. I can tell you that for many, this will change their lives forever. They would never have this opportunity if it was not for our business partners, the community, the Charleston Metro Chamber and Trident Tech."

The AGC Scholarships are funded through Accelerate Greater Charleston, the Chamber's five-year regional investment strategy to accelerate progress and achievements in Talent, Innovation and Advocacy. AGC provides the optimal assets to support growth in a highly competitive, global race for success.

View a complete list of scholarship recipients at charlestonchamber.net/2016-agcscholarshiprecipients. Learn more about Career Academies at charlestonchamber.net/careeracademies and for more information on the AGC Scholarships, visit charlestonchamber.net/accelerate-greater-charleston-scholarships.