Advantage Scholars prepare to join the Furman community

Over the course of two three-day sessions in June, The Riley Institute hosted 48 incoming Advantage Scholars for a leadership development program designed to broaden and deepen their thinking about various public policy challenges that confront their generation.

Jill Fuson, director of the Center for Critical Issues at The Riley Institute, speaks to a group of Advantage Scholars during Summer 2019.

The agendas for the incoming first-year students, all recipients of merit-based scholarships, included presentations from Furman faculty, small-group discussions and tours of the area –  as well as fun activities designed to build community and ease the transition into college, said Advantage Scholars director Jill Fuson, director of the Center for Critical Issues at The Riley Institute.

The program, which began in 2007 under the name South Carolina United with the second cohort of Hollingsworth Scholars before expanding to include other scholarships and renaming as Advantage Scholars in 2018, fit easily with The Riley Institute’s mission from the outset, said Fuson.

“Because of its work across the state in building leadership for a diverse society among community leaders, along with its focus on broadening and deepening community and student perspectives around critical issues, The Riley Institute was well-positioned to develop a meaningful curriculum for these scholars,” she said.

On campus, the students heard presentations from Furman faculty members on topics such as poverty and implicit bias. From Cherrydale Alumni House, the historic plantation home of James C. Furman, the university’s first president and a vocal proponent of slavery and secession, the scholars set out on the Seeking Abraham tour to learn about the school’s reckoning with its history. A tour of downtown neighborhoods and talks with community leaders and their peers gave them perspectives on policy challenges facing the Greenville, South Carolina, community and beyond, including food insecurity and food waste, energy and the environment, and inequities in public health, education and criminal justice.

Incoming Advantage Scholars shared a picnic lunch by Furman Lake with children from the Poe Mill Achievement Center in June 2023.

“Even before students move onto campus, they see that a Furman education takes place as much outside as it does inside the classroom,” said Scott Henderson, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Education and Furman’s director of national and international scholarships. “They gain a greater appreciation for listening to different viewpoints and assessing diverse opinions. They quickly grasp that The Furman Advantage isn’t an empty phrase, but a philosophy of learning that stresses not only what students can gain from a Furman education, but also the contributions they can make to that process.”

“One definite takeaway from the program is the ability to learn how to address and understand complex issues with the help and support of others,” said Savannah Bailey, an incoming first-year student from Greenville who received a Joseph A. Vaughn Scholarship. “And one thing I learned about Furman that brought me joy was the effort to recognize the history of slavery and racism so as to show thanks to the African Americans who worked for the Furmans in the past with no recognition.”

The three days also included a cooking class with locally sourced ingredients by a dining operations manager from Bon Appetit and a cookout and pool party at White Oaks, the university president’s estate.

“It’s hard not to feel good about the future when I listen to these bright and enthusiastic young people share their ideas and perspectives on important real-world issues,” said Fuson. “I can’t wait to see the mark they make on Furman beginning this fall.”

The incoming students are recipients of four of Furman’s merit-based scholarships.

• James B. Duke Scholarships are Furman’s most prestigious academic awards, given each year to incoming students – typically in the top 2% of the applicant pool – in recognition of their exceptional academic accomplishments as well as significant leadership, service and co-curricular involvement.
• John D. Hollingsworth Scholarships are awarded to incoming students from South Carolina who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a strong commitment to their communities.
• Charles H. Townes Scholarships are awarded to incoming students from outside of South Carolina who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a commitment to bettering their communities.
• Joseph A. Vaughn Scholarships are awarded to Black or African American students who currently reside in the state of South Carolina and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a strong commitment to their communities.