Local students recognized as Heritage scholars
Eleven high school seniors from Beaufort County have been named Heritage Classic Foundation scholars for the 2025-26 academic year, continuing a long-running program tied to one of the region’s most prominent charitable organizations.
The students, representing five high schools, were selected through a competitive process open to seniors in Beaufort and Jasper counties. Applications were evaluated based on academic achievement, community service, essays and financial need, with 14 finalists advancing to interviews before final selections were made.
The selected scholars are Sophia Brown, Laurel Hinderliter, James Riddle and Halle Tran of Beaufort High School; Tamyra Bolden, Katherine Seraiah Riddle and Rebecca Wohn of Bluffton High School; Jackson Hollman and Kaden Stewart of Hilton Head Island High School; William Carter Cole of Legacy Christian Academy; and Myla Greene of May River High School.
During the awards presentation, Heritage Classic Foundation Chairman Simon Fraser praised the group’s accomplishments.
“This is always an exciting day for the Heritage Classic Foundation,” Fraser said. “We believe the résumés of these young adults are stronger than ever. The teachers and administrators of our school systems, as well as the award winners, deserve special praise.”
Fraser added that the recipients reflect more than academic success.
“You are not just straight A students. You are leaders in your schools, communities and churches. Your interests range from volunteerism to sports to caring for the environment,” he said.
Six of the students will receive scholarships totaling $16,000 over four years, while four others were awarded scholarships valued at $20,000. Those awards include scholarships honoring former committee leaders John Zimmerman and Mike Malanick, as well as the Charlie Brown Award and the Tartan Club Award, which is funded through community donations.
An additional one-year $4,000 Kirby Scholarship, named in memory of former committee chairman Ward Kirby, is awarded annually.
The foundation also provides scholarships to local colleges, including four $2,500 annual awards to the University of South Carolina Beaufort and two $1,500 awards to the Technical College of the Lowcountry.
With this year’s class, a total of 49 students from Beaufort and Jasper counties will be receiving foundation support next fall, with combined funding of $194,000. Since its inception, the program will have awarded $5.75 million to 408 students following the 2026 distribution.
The Heritage Classic Foundation, which organizes the RBC Heritage golf tournament, has contributed more than $61.8 million to charitable and educational initiatives across South Carolina since 1987.
Officials said the scholarship program remains a central part of the foundation’s mission, supporting local students as they pursue higher education and future careers.
