Board of Elections and Voter Registration initiative encourages voting in honor of our vets
MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (April 22, 2016) - The Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration initiative, Vote in Honor of a Veteran, is now offering a student scholarship, sponsored by the Charleston Exchange Club.
The scholarship is to be used for college-related expenses such as tuition, books, or any other need the student has in their pursuit of higher education.
“This is an excellent example of engaging our youth in recognizing the sacrifices our veterans have made in defending our way of life,” said Shawn Pinkston of the Charleston Exchange Club. “The Charleston Exchange Club is honored to be part of this worthwhile initiative and providing those students who participate in the democratic process with scholarships to benefit their educational pursuits."
The student must meet these qualifications to be eligible for the scholarship:
• Applicants must be in their final year of high school and have been accepted to or enrolled in an institute of higher education.
• Applicants must be registered to vote and must have voted in a local, state or federal election within the past calendar year (12 months).
• Applicants shall submit an essay focused on why he/she voted in honor of a veteran. The essay shall contain a brief description of the veteran(s) for whom the applicant voted. It may also focus on topics such as, but not limited to, the role of elections in our form of government, the importance of voting in our form of government, the role of the military/veteran in our system of government or the applicant’s definition/interpretation of patriotism. *This list is not intended to be a guideline for topics covered, but is only offered as possible topics.
To apply, students can download the application here: http://vote.charlestoncounty.org/files/Vote-in-Honor-of-a-Vet-Scholarship-Application.pdf
The following amounts shall be awarded to the finalists:
• 1st Place: $900
• 2nd Place: $400• 3rd Place: $200
The deadline to submit an application is May 1, 2016. The scholarship recipients will be announced on May 31, 2016.
Please note, recipients of any scholarship must provide verification of college acceptance and/or enrollment before any scholarship is awarded.
“Voting is one of our most basic civic duties. The Vote in Honor of a Veteran initiative not only educates our youth about this civic duty, but engages them in the process at the earliest opportunity,” said Isaac Cramer, Absentee Supervisor with the Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration.
Vote in Honor of a Veteran:
Vote in Honor of a Veteran is an initiative of the Charleston County’s Board of Elections and Voter Registration (BEVR). It was launched in an effort to increase voter participation and encourages the public to vote in honor of veterans, who have made sacrifices in order to protect our freedoms and rights, including our right to vote.
The initiative includes a partnership with high schools, in order to reach our youngest voters. As part of this pilot program, BEVR partnered with the Charleston Charter School for Math and Science, where a 16-week program was embedded into the curriculum. The school program included: a visit from a veteran who shared his experiences serving in the military and conveyed the importance of democracy and voting; an assignment for students based on that visit; a visit by a BEVR representative who taught a lesson on voting procedures and gave students the opportunity to register to vote and sign up to be poll workers; and a final veteran visit to the classroom along with a mock election for students.
For more information, visit the Vote in Honor of a Veteran page on the BEVR site:
• Online at http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/bevr/vets-about.php.
• By email at bevr@charlestoncounty.org
• By phone at (843) 744-VOTE (8683)