Meet Savanna Mansel, a new Clyburn Scholar at SC State University
The Simpsonville, South Carolina, resident is a fourth-generation Bulldog.
Mansel’s passion for marketing stems from her lifelong drive to connect people with what they need. She plans to utilize her creativity and problem-solving skills to develop meaningful products and services that enhance people's lives.
Through her minor in Spanish and aspirations to study abroad, Mansel hopes to become fluent in the language and expand her ability to communicate across cultures, preparing her for a future as an international business leader or global ambassador.
And as a newly inducted 2025 Clyburn Scholar, she will elevate both her academic pursuits and her leadership acumen via SC State’s Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College.
“Savanna Mansel embodies the values of the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College: intellect, integrity, and impact,” said Dr. William H. Whitaker Jr., the Honors College’s dean. “She represents the next generation of global-minded Bulldog scholars – creative, compassionate, and prepared to make a lasting difference in the world.”
Mansel is a proud legacy student: a fourth-generation Bulldog following in the footsteps of her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. She chose South Carolina State University to continue her family’s distinguished Bulldog tradition while creating her own legacy of innovation, leadership, and service.
A Simpsonville, South Carolina, resident, Mansel maintained a weighted GPA of 4.819 (unweighted 3.88), ranking in the top 7% of her class at Hillcrest High School.
She served as vice president of Hillcrest’s Black and Brown Student Union, where she helped lead a 500% increase in membership and co-created the inaugural Hillcrest Hope 5K to raise funds for the Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health. She also served as vice president of the Saved by Christ Club and captain of the Rambunctious Radiance Dance Team, choreographing performances that fostered unity and school spirit.
As an athlete, Mansel earned All-Region honors in Javelin (2024 – Region I) and was the 2023 South Carolina AAU Javelin Champion and Junior Olympics participant.
She dedicated over 30 hours as an AAU Junior Youth Track Coach, volunteered for community projects, and served as a student ambassador representing Hillcrest with excellence and grace.
Academically, she excelled in Advanced Placement and dual-credit coursework, earning induction into the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Beta Club, and Rams United.
Mansel describes herself as “a leader who brings energy and determination to every challenge.” She views the Clyburn Scholars Program as an opportunity to learn, to lead and to grow among peers who share her commitment to excellence and service.
About the Clyburn Scholars Program
The Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College at South Carolina State University proudly celebrates the continued generosity of the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Endowed Honors College Scholarship Fund, an enduring endowment honoring Congressman James E. Clyburn and the late Dr. Emily England Clyburn.
Established to support high-achieving students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a passion for community engagement, the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Endowed Honors College Scholarship Fund has become a cornerstone of the Honors College’s mission to elevate student success and expand opportunity for South Carolina’s most promising young scholars.
“The Honors College is forever grateful to the Clyburn family for choosing to invest in the lives of some of our best and brightest students here at South Carolina State University,” Whitaker said. “These financial gifts are noble and profoundly impactful, ensuring that our scholars can focus on academic excellence without the barriers of financial hardship.
“We accept these gifts with humility and a renewed commitment to the ideals of leadership, service, and scholarship that the Clyburn name represents,” Whitaker said. “This scholarship does more than ease financial burdens. It inspires our scholars to lead lives of purpose and to give back to the communities that shaped them.”
For more information about SC State’s Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College, contact
Dr. William Whitaker, the Honors College’s dean, at wwhitak3@scsu.edu or 803-533-3710, or Dr. Windy A. Mack Stephenson, the Honors College’s executive
director, at wmack3@scsu.edu or 803-516-4610.