As a student at Woodmont High School, Miyah Nedwards kept a high grade point average while balancing challenging classes — including a two-year AP Capstone program — and a part-time job. The grades she earned made her eligible for state and federal funding to help cover the costs of college, but she would need more to attend her dream school, Furman University.
Nedwards applied for scholarships administered through the Community Foundation of Greenville and was awarded three: The John I. Smith Scholarship of $6,400 ($800 per semester for four years), the Margaret and Jack Paylor Family Scholarship of $5,000, and the Obermier Scholarship of $2,000.
Scholarship recipient Miyah Nedwards with other freshmen members of Furman University’s Purple Diamonds dance team.With four siblings, including a sister who is currently a senior in high school, Nedwards credits the scholarships with allowing her to continue her education without straining her family’s finances.
“Furman was always my top choice,” she said. “The scholarship gave me the opportunity to go to the school I wanted to and take the burden off my parents.”
In her application for the scholarships, Nedwards expressed a desire to combine her love of science with a wish to make a positive difference in the world. Her father, a personal trainer, and her mother, a nonprofit professional, have served others in their careers. Through her mother’s work at a rape crisis center and advocacy for a tracking system for sexual-assault kits, Nedwards became aware of one potential career path that incorporates both science and public service.
“Mom arranged for me to spend the day at the forensic lab in Greenville County and learn about the role of a serologist, DNA analyst, etc.,” she said. “I loved it.”
Now, after spending a semester at Furman, Nedwards has taken classes that have broadened her horizons, including an African American religious history class. Another was an anthropology course, “The Power and Politics of Black Foodways” which explored the role of food in the Black community and effects in the food industry. Studying at Furman has allowed her to follow her curiosity about a range of subjects and has led her to consider a double major.
“It’s given me the opportunity to take classes that opened up new possibilities and options,” Nedwards said.
Nedwards has taken advantage of non-academic opportunities at Furman as well, joining the school’s chapter of the NAACP, the Student League for Black Culture and the Purple Diamonds dance team.
“I’m really enjoying the new experiences. You meet really good people,” she said. “The Furman campus is beautiful.”
Nedwards advised other students to follow their dreams and not be afraid to ask for assistance.
“Being at college is different from being at home. Being away from your family is a new experience,” she said. “Be true to yourself instead of wanting to fit in. It’s OK to ask for help. People are there to help you succeed and help you grow.”
The Obermier and Paylor families, John I. Smith Charities and other organizations have established scholarship funds through the Community Foundation of Greenville. These scholarships commemorate the values and interests of the people they honor while making higher education more accessible to students in the Greenville community.
“It is very rewarding to provide scholarships for deserving students and to be a part of making higher education more attainable for them,” said Debbie Cooper, The Community Foundation’s director of community impact for grants and scholarships. “Hearing of their successes in college is a reminder of how impactful a scholarship can be in a student’s life.”
To learn more about scholarships administered by the Community Foundation of Greenville, visit cfgreenville.org/grants-impact/scholarships.
