The University's Board of Visitors has established an endowment that will fund a scholarship to be awarded annually to one incoming freshman from South Carolina who has demonstrated creativity, civic involvement, academic achievement and financial need.

The scholarship is named in honor of Thomas L. Stepp, secretary to the USC Board of Trustees and to the Board of Visitors. It provides $2,000 per academic year, renewable for three years as long as the student completes 24 semester hours and has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of each academic year. A student may receive this award in addition to a General University Scholarship or departmental scholarship.

To apply for the award a student must be a high-school senior, be admitted to the upcoming freshman class, and submit a Board of Visitors Scholarship application by March 15.

In addition, students will be required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which must be received in the USC Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships by the April 1 priority deadline.

A Board of Visitors selection committee will review questions on the scholarship application that address the areas of creativity and civic involvement. The committee will receive academic information from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and financial information from the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

The Board of Visitors selection commitee will then select 5 finalists and place them in rank order. The top student will be offered the Board of Visitors Scholarship, with a response date of May 1. If the first student declines the award, the second student will be awarded, continuing down the list until a student accepts the award.

To make a contribution,
follow this link:

Thomas L. Stepp
Board of Visitors'
Scholarship