AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head donates $7,500 to Shanklin Elementary
In September, AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head made a lasting impact at Joseph Shanklin Elementary School, surprising students and teachers with a $7,500 donation and essential school supplies to support their classrooms. The donation, part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative in partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, directly benefitted 15 classrooms and more than 315 students at the high-need school.
[High-need is defined as a school that has a Title I Schoolwide Program and/or a school where 40% or more of the student population qualifies for the Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Program.]
The donation comes at a critical time when educators nationwide are facing financial pressure. According to AdoptAClassroom.org, 92% of teachers serve students whose families cannot afford basic school supplies, forcing educators to spend an average of $895 of their own money annually on classroom materials — a 50% increase since 2015.
This event marks the fifth year AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head as partnered with Joseph Shanklin Elementary School to “adopt” classrooms at the school. The retailer made surprise visits to classrooms to share news of the donation and provided treats for the staff.
“This generous donation from AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head will go a long way in helping our teachers create a well-equipped learning environment,” Joseph Shanklin Elementary School Principal Liz Rivera said in a news release. “Having access to the right supplies makes a real difference — not just for our students’ success, but for their confidence. We’re grateful for our long-standing partnership with AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head and to be part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative.”
To learn more about the Subaru Loves Learning initiative and the partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, visit subaru.com/learning or follow #SubaruLovesLearning on social media.
Sparklight gives $7,500 grant to The Outside Foundation
Sparklight is helping bring science to life for local students with a $7,500 grant to The Outside Foundation through its Charitable Giving Fund. The funding will support the expansion of the Foundation’s “Kids in Kayaks” program during the 2025–2026 school year, giving approximately 1,300 Beaufort County 7th-graders the chance to explore their local environment through guided kayak tours and hands-on dockside science activities.
“We sincerely thank Sparklight for supporting our annual ‘Kids in Kayaks’ program,” The Outside Foundation Director of Development Mary Heitman said in a news release. “Their partnership genuinely helps us reach more young people with meaningful outdoor experiences that ignite a love for nature, encourage environmental care and bring our community closer together. Together, we’re committed to getting kids outside and preserving the beautiful places that make our region unique.”
Since the Fund’s inception in 2020, Sparklight has awarded more than $1 million in grants to more than 250 nonprofits that make a difference in the lives of those they serve.
For more information about the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund, visit www.sparklight.com/charitablegiving.
Beaufort’s Abernethy graduates from Georgia State University
William Abernethy of Beaufort (29906) graduated from Georgia State University at the end of the summer 2025 semester, earning a Master of Education degree in Social Studies Education.
More than 2,000 students graduated from Georgia State University during the summer 2025 semester, earning associate’s, bachelor’s, graduate and professional degrees as well as undergraduate and graduate certificates.
Georgia State University is an enterprising urban public research institution in Atlanta, the leading cultural and economic center of the Southeast. With six campuses throughout metro Atlanta, the university provides its faculty and more than 52,000 students with unsurpassed connections to the opportunities available in one of the 21st century’s great global cities.
Beaufort student named to Summer 2025 Dean’s List at Georgia State
Cristal Gonzalez Apolinar of Beaufort (29906), was named to the Summer 2025 Dean’s List at Georgia State University.
To be eligible for the Dean’s List during the summer semester, degree-seeking students with a minimum Georgia State cumulative GPA of 2.00 must earn a 3.50 GPA for the semester and complete at least 6 semester hours of academic credit with no incompletes.
20 from Beaufort, Port Royal named to The Citadel’s Spring 2025 Dean’s List
Twenty students from Beaufort and Port Royal were named to the Spring 2025 Dean’s List at The Citadel. The dean’s list is a recognition given to cadets and students who are registered for 12 or more semester hours and whose grade point average is 3.20 or higher, with no grade of I (Incomplete) and no grade below C for work in a semester.
Port Royal’s John Pridgen was named to the Dean’s List, as were Beaufort students Theeb Bayyoud, Sebastien Clavijo, Joseph Combs, Gunnar DeGroat, Ian Doherty, Brock Durham, Jack Henrickson, Diego Ladino Alvarez, Clayton Lohr, Tucker Mickel, Thomas Purdy, Tyler Reichel, Paul Scarpa, Micah Schaeffer, Justin Spencer, Caleb Stone, John Sumner IV, Alexander Tielens and Clayton Vande Burgt.
The Citadel, with its iconic campus located in Charleston, offers a classic military college education for young men and women focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction.
Beaufort, Port Royal students named to SNHU Summer 2025 President’s List
Fourteen students from Beaufort and Port Royal were named to the Summer 2025 President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The summer terms run from May to August.
Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.
Port Royal’s Justina Wolfe (29935) was named to the President’s List, as were Beaufort students Andrew Deems (29907), Xhesika Donovan (29907), Hartley Schildt (29907), Whitney Hardman (29906), Rana Creech (29906), Mikayla Cole (29906), Kaitlyn Stark (29906), Samuel Fombellida (29906), Kaleigh Boatenhammer (29906), Jesse Carles (29906), Ersha Henderson (29906), Kierra Scott (29902) and Teri-Lyn Tamayo (29902).
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution in Manchester, N.H., with a 92-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults.
Beaufort’s Enrich named to SNHU Dean’s List
Moses Enrich of Beaufort (29906) has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Summer 2025 Dean’s List. The summer terms run from May to August. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.
