Clementa Pinckney scholarship program open to Beaufort, Jasper County students

Applications are now being accepted for college scholarships given in memory of late state Sen. Clementa Pinckney.

The Reverend Pinckney Scholars program will award renewable scholarships from $5,000 to $10,000 annually, according to a release from the Coastal Community Foundation, which is administering the program. Black high school seniors who are fulltime residents of Beaufort, Jasper or Charleston are eligible to apply for the scholarships, which can be used toward a two-year or four-year degree.

The program plans to award eight scholars the first year with more in future years. Successful applicants will also receive training before college and have access to workshops while going to school.

Applications will be accepted through April 15 and are available on http://www.coastalcommunityfoundation.org.

Pinckney, a pastor and state lawmaker representing the Lowcountry, was shot and killed along with eight others at a bible study in Charleston last year.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 5:32 AM with the headline "Clementa Pinckney scholarship program open to Beaufort, Jasper County students."