Orangeburg County School District (OCSD) will honor 67 exceptional Senior Scholars at the 2025 Senior Scholars Banquet on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Orangeburg County Convention Center. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will celebrate the academic achievements and bright futures of the district’s top graduating seniors.

The annual banquet recognizes students from across the district for outstanding performance in academics, leadership, and extracurricular involvement. This year, 15 scholars will graduate as part of the inaugural cohort of the Orangeburg Advanced College, each earning at least one associate degree. In addition, four students will be honored for achieving the rare distinction of graduating with two associate degrees from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

OCSD is also proud to announce that its graduating seniors have already earned more than $18.2 million in scholarships across its high schools, and that number continues to grow daily as additional awards are received.

Scholarship Totals by School (as of April 30, 2025):

• Bethune-Bowman High School – $7,551,292
• Branchville High School – $181,800
• Edisto High School – $498,857
• Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School – $463,734
• Lake Marion High School – $1,689,443
• North High School – $150,000
• Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School – $7,764,396
• Districtwide Total – $18,299,522

The evening will feature a keynote address from Dr. James Stroman, a respected physician, Orangeburg native, and graduate of Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. Dr. Stroman will share insights from his journey in medicine and offer words of inspiration to the graduating class.

Dr. Shawn D. Foster, Superintendent of Orangeburg County School District said, “This banquet is a meaningful occasion where we not only recognize academic excellence but also celebrate the incredible achievements of our Senior Scholars. The accomplishments of these students— especially those earning associate degrees while completing high school—are a testament to their determination and to the high-quality educational opportunities we provide here in Orangeburg County.”

The Senior Scholars Banquet is a key event in the district’s efforts to support and encourage the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators.

For more information about the event, please contact Dr. Erica S. Taylor, Assistant Superintendent for Communications and Business and Community Partnerships at Orangeburg County School District at erica.taylor@ocsdsc.org or 839-356-4040.