A senate RESOLUTION

 

TO CONGRATULATE HCS Scholars Academy High School for winning the 2026 Class 1A FAFSA First Challenge AND TO COMMEND the school FOR ITS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

 

Whereas, HCS Scholars Academy High School is a public high school within Horry County Schools serving highly gifted students from across Horry County's nine attendance areas. The school offers advanced placement and dual enrollment classes. Students typically graduate with over sixty college credits between advanced placement exam success and college coursework; and

 

Whereas, HCS Scholars Academy High School was named a Palmetto's Finest school for 2026, ranked the number one school in South Carolina for the past two years based on the South Carolina State Report Card, and was named a US News and World Report Top Twenty Best High School and Top Ten STEM School; and

 

Whereas, a top-performing school, HCS Scholars Academy High School won the 2026 Class 1A FAFSA First Challenge. Completion of this challenge is directly tied to college access and the financial aid dollars a graduating class secures for postsecondary study; and

 

Whereas, completing the FAFSA is often the last practical barrier between a student and college enrollment, which is especially significant given that Scholars Academy students already graduate with substantial college credit. One hundred percent of the HCS Scholars Academy Class of 2026 matriculated to a four-year university. The forty-six graduates of the class of 2026 earned over fourteen million dollars in scholarships to complete their undergraduate degree; and

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate appreciate the dedication and commitment of HCS Scholars Academy High School to serving the people and the State of South Carolina.  Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the Senate:

 

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate HCS Scholars Academy High School for winning the 2026 Class 1A FAFSA First Challenge and commend the school for its many years of dedicated service to the people and the State of South Carolina.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the principal of HCS Scholars Academy High School, Norman McQueen, and to the school's counselor, Genelle Williams.

----XX----