Four outstanding students at South Carolina State University have been named recipients of the Robert L. Dubose Scholarship, an award supporting high-achieving students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Funded by a $10,000 annual contribution from Goodwill Industries, the scholarship honors the legacy of Robert L. Dubose, a proud SC State alumnus whose journey from a sharecropper’s son to industry leadership continues to inspire.
Dubose, a 1996 SC State alumnus, serves on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Corporation of Eastern North Carolina. Goodwill asked Dubose to name a charity or institution to receive an annual donation of $10,000. He selected SC State as the recipient.
This inaugural Dubose Scholars are O’Bryaan Prioleau, Ashley Nehemiah Smith, Jackson Edwards, and Monte Middleton.
Each student has demonstrated academic excellence and dedication to advancing in their chosen STEM disciplines. One student was selected from each of the university’s four
departments in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (College of STEM-T).
“This scholarship is a big help for our students because this will help defray the ever-increasing cost of education,” said Dr. Stanley Ihekweazu, the college’s dean. “The College of STEM-T is extremely grateful to Mr. Dubose for selecting SC State University and more importantly, the College of STEM-T to receive the scholarships.”
At the scholars’ induction ceremony in SC State’s Engineering and Computer Science Complex. Dubose reflected on his own path and urged the
students to stay true to their individual goals.
“Define success as what you desire it to be, not what others want it to be,” Dubose said. “Oftentimes, we pursue the dreams of others, but not the dreams that we really have for ourselves.”
He also reminded students that their education at SC State stands alongside any institution.
“The same way we teach the Law of Motion here at South Carolina State University is the same way and the manner of definition that they teach at Clemson University,” Dubose said.
