DENMARK, S.C. — On Tuesday, officials announced that South Carolina was awarded $1,965,332 in funding for Voorhees University, one of South Carolina’s eight HBCUs.
Administered through the United States Department of Education’s Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Program (RPED), the funding will help students in rural communities transition from high school to college and transfers from two-year to four-year institutions.
"This grant will serve as the catalyst that drives the socio-economic vehicle destined to elevate the quality of life for citizens in and around the Denmark, South Carolina area,” said Voorhees University president, Ronnie Hopkins.
The Department of Education awarded 22 institutions of higher education RPED grants to help improve rates of postsecondary education enrollment, persistence, and completion among students in rural communities. These grants will also provide career counseling and individualized student planning to help create pathways for students to find rewarding careers that do not require them to leave their home for economic opportunities.