South Carolina Leaders Celebrate Future Innovators; SC Future Makers Awards Scholarships to Five Students
COLUMBIA, SC (April 23, 2025) – South Carolina’s future engineers, scientists, and innovators took center stage today as 75 high school seniors were celebrated at the 9th Annual South Carolina STEM Signing Day. Modeled after athletic signing days, the event recognizes students from across the Palmetto State who have committed to pursue a two- or four-year degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).
The 2025 ceremony was held at the University of South Carolina Alumni Center and featured recognition from South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, the South Carolina House of Representatives, and the South Carolina Senate. In a special visit to the Statehouse, honorees were applauded for their academic excellence and future contributions to the state’s STEM-driven economy.
Created in South Carolina in 2017, STEM Signing Day has since expanded to 14 states and honored more than 2,000 students nationwide. More than 700 South Carolina students have participated since the event’s inception. This year’s honorees were selected through an application process on the Tallo platform
The event was hosted by the Boeing Company, BMW Manufacturing Co., Michelin North America, Nucor Corporation, SC Future Makers, and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance.
“We’re proud to celebrate this outstanding group of students who are choosing to lead, innovate, and shape what’s next through STEM,” said Erica Parrott, Director and Chief Engineer of Production Engineering for the 787 Program at Boeing South Carolina. “SC STEM Signing Day is about recognizing the potential of these young minds—and encouraging them to stay curious, ask tough questions, and keep building a better future.”
New This Year: SC Future Makers Awards STEM Scholarships
In a new initiative launched this year, SC Future Makers awarded scholarships to five students participating in SC STEM Signing Day. The scholarships are intended to help further each student’s STEM education and were awarded based on academic achievement, career goals, and demonstrated interest in STEM fields.
Scholarship Recipients:
- Kensley Green, Fairfield-Central High School, $5,000
- Madison Wright, Williston-Elko High School, $2,500
- Vaishali Allibada, Barnwell High School, $2,500
- Larkin Newton, Lugoff-Elgin High School, $1,000
- Airysse Unabia, Ashley Ridge High School, $1,000
“We’re investing in the future of our workforce by supporting students who are passionate about STEM and driven to make a difference,” said Elisabeth Kovacs, Executive Director of SC Future Makers. “These scholarships are about more than financial support—they’re a vote of confidence in the next generation of leaders who will fuel South Carolina’s economy.”
A full list of the 2025 honorees, including their high school affiliations, can be accessed HERE.
A group photo of the honorees with Governor McMaster can be downloaded HERE and is approved for media use.
Photographs of individual students at the SC STEM Signing Day ceremony are available upon request – contact James Richter at james@myscma.com.