The South Carolina State Fair has announced the recipients of its 2026 Ride of Your Life Scholarship program, awarding $540,000 in scholarships to 54 graduating high school seniors from across the state.
Each recipient will receive a $10,000 scholarship to support their education at a South Carolina public or private college, university, or technical college. The scholarships are distributed in annual installments of $2,500 and are awarded based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, communication skills, financial need, and completion of the application process.
“At a time when we are reflecting on the roots of our country, it’s especially meaningful to invest in students who are shaping what comes next,” said Nancy Smith, general manager of the South Carolina State Fair. “These students are grounded in resilience, purpose and a strong sense of where they come from, and we are proud to support their future endeavors.”
The scholarship program, funded by the South Carolina State Fair, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, traditionally awards 50 scholarships annually. This year, however, four additional scholarships were made possible through a $40,000 contribution from Circle K and EMC Tickets, increasing the total number of recipients to 54.
Since the program began in 1997, the South Carolina State Fair has awarded nearly $6.5 million in scholarships to students across the state.
Recipients were selected from applicants representing all seven of South Carolina’s congressional districts. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition and other educational expenses, including on-campus housing, textbooks, and computers. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average and complete at least 30 credit hours each academic year to remain eligible for funding.
For more information about the Ride of Your Life Scholarship program, visit the South Carolina State Fair website.
The 2026 South Carolina State Fair is scheduled for Oct. 15-25.
