Staff reports
The University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) has been awarded a $3,500 South Carolina Sexual Violence Prevention Grant to strengthen campus-wide efforts focused on preventing sexual harassment and interpersonal violence.
The funding will support Sand Shark A.C.T. (Awareness. Consent. Trust.), a dynamic sexual assault prevention and awareness initiative led by Brandon J. Wright, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Development & Dean of Students.
Sand Shark A.C.T. empowers students with skills and confidence to foster safe and respectful relationships. Through workshops, educational programming, and campus events, A.C.T. equips students to recognize healthy relationship dynamics, understand and practice consent, and intervene effectively in challenging situations.
“An effective prevention strategy must go beyond a one-time event,” said Wright. “Sand Shark A.C.T. is about building a culture of accountability, respect, and trust where students feel empowered to support one another and stand against sexual violence.”
The grant is administered by the South Carolina Institute on the Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses (SCIP), which works to coordinate and implement best practice standards across higher education institutions across the state. The grant serves as supplemental funding to enhance comprehensive campus prevention plans and supports innovative initiatives addressing sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, gender-based harassment or bullying, and stalking.
At USCB, this initiative is strengthened through a collaborative partnership with Hopeful Horizons, a local organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Together, USCB and Hopeful Horizons provide students with expert resources, survivor-centered support services, and community-driven education to foster a safer, more compassionate campus environment.