
FLORENCE, S.C. (July 19, 2018) – Students who are graduates of eligible Pee Dee area high schools (graduating between 2013-18) may qualify for a free education at Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) thanks to a $750,000 grant from the SC Promise Scholarship Program.
Funded by the General Assembly and administered by the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, the SC Promise Scholarship Program was launched to provide higher education to high school students. Out of the $3.9 million in scholarship funds distributed to the 16 SC Technical College System institutions, FDTC and Trident Technical College were awarded the highest amount based on the number of high school graduates from eligible high schools in their service area.
“This scholarship program is a great opportunity for Pee Dee area students,” said FDTC Interim President Edward Bethea. “Graduates of many of the high schools in the Pee Dee area qualify for this program, and the money follows the student to the technical college of their choice.”
Students who participate in the program may receive up to $2,000 per academic year. Financial assistance from a Pell Grant, a Tuition Grant, the LIFE Scholarship, or Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA) must be applied to tuition first. The scholarship also includes a $300 allowance for textbooks. To qualify for the SC Promise Scholarship Program funding, a student must meet specific requirements.
The first requirement is that students must have earned a high school diploma or GED from an eligible Pee Dee region public or private high school between the years of 2013 and 2018. Eligible high schools include Carolina Academy, Creek Bridge, Faith Christian Academy of Florence, Hannah-Pamplico, Johnsonville, King’s Academy, Lake City, Marion, Mullins, Pee Dee Academy, South Florence, Timmonsville, West Florence and Wilson. School districts in Dillon, Marlboro, Clarendon, Lee and Williamsburg Counties also are eligible for free tuition.
Next, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as the SC Promise Scholarship Application.
The FDTC Financial Aid Office is available to assist students with the FAFSA application.
Potential FDTC students who want to qualify for funding from the SC Promise Scholarship Program must enroll at the college and pursue a certificate, diploma or degree program. However, students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for the scholarship funding.
Once accepted into FDTC, students must then enroll into at least six credit hours of course work during either the 2018 Fall Semester or the 2019 Spring Semester. Students must also maintain a 2.0 GPA while enrolled in classes at FDTC.
For more information on how to participate in the SC Promise Scholarship Program at FDTC, please contact FDTC’s Financial Aid Office at 843-661-8085 or contact Admissions at 843-661-8289.