The Blaney Southern Baptist Scholarship was established to generationally demonstrate the sustaining love and providence of our Lord Jesus Christ through educational scholarships for Christian members of Southern Baptist churches in Elgin, South Carolina. Our desire is to support students as they pursue higher education while remaining rooted in faithful Christian commitment.

Award Amount
Scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $1,500 per academic year, depending on available funding and demonstrated financial need. No student will receive more than $1,500 in a single academic year.

A maximum of four scholarships may be awarded per year:

• One incoming freshman award
• Up to three recurring awards

The number of awardees may be adjusted by the church scholarship committee based on the balance of the scholarship endowment fund.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following qualifications:

Residency
Applicants must currently reside in Kershaw County or Richland County, South Carolina. Proof of residency may be required.

Church Attendance
Applicants must have faithfully attended a Southern Baptist Church located in Elgin, SC (29045) for at least the previous twelve months.
Additional consideration is given to students who have faithfully attended Blaney Baptist Church.

Education Level

Applicants must:

• Be an incoming college freshman or first-year trade school student
• Have earned a high school diploma or GED
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5

There is no limitation on area of study. However, additional consideration may be given to students preparing for Christian ministry.

There are no age restrictions associated with this scholarship.

Required Documentation

The following materials must be submitted for consideration:

• Completed Blaney Southern Baptist Scholarship Application
• High school transcript or GED equivalent documentation
• FAFSA documentation or income tax returns from the individual responsible for tuition
• Disclosure of any South Carolina 529 College Savings Plan and its balance
• Estimated yearly tuition cost (tuition only, not living expenses)
• Documentation of any loans, grants, or scholarships awarded prior to April 1
• Family demographic information of the person responsible for tuition, including:
  • Number of dependents
  • Ages of children
  • Number of dependents currently enrolled in higher education

Applicants must also submit:

• A one-page letter describing their conversion story and God’s grace in their life
• Three letters of recommendation:
  • One from the pastor of the attending church
  • One from a member in good standing of a Southern Baptist church in Kershaw or Richland County
  • One from a former instructor, coach, or current/former employer

Letters of recommendation must be sent directly from the person providing the reference.

First-time award recipients are required to attend one two-hour financial counseling session appointed by Blaney Baptist Church. Failure to attend may result in forfeiture of the scholarship.

Applicants are responsible for confirming receipt of all required materials prior to the deadline.

Recurring Scholarships

Previous award recipients may apply for additional funding for up to four total years. Awards are not automatically renewed.

Recurring applicants must:

• Maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Submit a current transcript by April 1
• Maintain faithful church attendance or active membership in a campus Christian organization
• Maintain full-time student status (minimum of 24 credit hours or equivalent within the past 12 months)
• Plan to maintain full-time status during the upcoming academic year

Recurring awards depend upon academic performance and available funding.

Method of Payment

All scholarship funds are made payable directly to the educational institution. No checks will be made payable to the student.

Distribution of funds follows the institution’s academic calendar:

• Yearly calendar: 100% of award paid in one payment
• Semester calendar: 50% paid for first semester and 50% for second semester
• Quarterly calendar: Award distributed across three quarters

Application Deadline

All application materials and required documentation must be received by April 1.
There are no exceptions to this deadline.

How to Apply

Applications and supporting documents may be submitted by one of the following methods:

Mail:
Blaney Baptist Church
PO Box 305
Elgin, SC 29045

Hand Delivery:
Blaney Baptist Church
1400 Blaney Road
Elgin, SC 29045

Email (Encrypted Only):
blancher@blaneybaptist.com

If documentation is submitted by email, it must be encrypted and include the subject line:
“BSBS Applicant Documentation”

If mailed or hand delivered, documents must be sealed in an envelope clearly marked:
“BSBS Applicant Documentation”

Applicants are responsible for confirming that all documents have been received prior to April 1.