The path straight from high school to college is not without its challenges for aspiring students. For many, the 
obstacles are economic.
The "Jenny Ballard Opportunity Scholarship for Women Returning to College" is awarded each year to a woman who may not have been able to attend college when she graduated from high school, but who now wants to further her education. WIRE (Women Involved in Rural Electrification), the community service organization associated with the state's electric cooperatives, awards the scholarship.
Three women will receive financial assistance in the upcoming school year. Holly Brown, a member of Black River Electric from Dalzell, receives a $2,500 scholarship. So too does Jane Thompson of Palmetto Electric, who lives in Bluffton. Brown is attending the University of South Carolina Sumter, and Thompson attends the Technical College of the Lowcountry.
A third scholarship, totaling $1,000, is awarded to Amanda Winburn of Patrick, S.C. Winburn is a member of Pee Dee Electric, who attends Coker College in Hartsville.
