ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State University was presented with a $200,000 "Care Grant" from Aflac Tuesday. The grant will be used for community health training, medical research, and student scholarships.
Dr. Ashley Knowell is Co-Director of the Health Equity Research and Training Center at South Carolina State University. She says this grant makes an impact for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their community.
"HBCUs can provide the same type of research and the same type of opportunities to our communities as other institutions,” Knowell said. “Sometimes HBCUs are looked over, but we do have programs, cutting edge research going on, programs to directly impact our communities, and we can do it as well. And if we're not serving our communities and finding ways to improve our communities, who will?"
South Carolina State University President Alexander Conyers says the continued studies of health for the university is important.
"We'll be able now to provide some funding to programs on campus for health and wellness fitness,” Conyers said. “Educating our students and our faculty and staff on the importance of being healthy ... We know that that impacts so many other facets of life."
Dr. Judith Salley, South Carolina State University's Chair of Biological and Physical Sciences, says the scholarships created from this grant offer opportunities.
"One of the critical needs for a college student today is finances,” Salley said. “So we were able to create Aflac scholars, and those scholars will receive funding through this grant to continue their education."
Three students at South Carolina State University will be chosen as Aflac scholars and will receive a $5,000 scholarship, along with the opportunity to work with faculty.