Greenville, SC – Greenville County Schools’ Class of 2009 earned nearly $100 million in college scholarships this year, surpassing last year’s total ($84.9 million) by nearly $15 million.

More than 3,800 graduates received scholarship offers totaling $99,756,062. Seventy-four percent of the scholarship dollars ($73,792,032) was awarded for academic achievement. Students received more than $5.6 million for specific areas of study, including music and the arts.  Nearly 18 percent ($17,768,633) was awarded for athletics, while armed services awards totaled $2.5 million.

“Student success is measured in a number of ways, including the amount of college scholarships awarded each year to graduates. I congratulate the Class of 2009 for their hard work, which has resulted in high academic achievement and financial rewards.  I look forward to following their continued success as they pursue their dreams in college and beyond,” said Superintendent Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher.

This year 3,174 graduates have chosen to attend either two or four-year colleges or universities. Ninety percent will be attending in-state institutions such as Clemson, College of Charleston, Erskine, Furman, North Greenville University, the University of South Carolina, Winthrop, and Wofford College.

# # #