Meet Rhiazia Grant, a new Clyburn Scholar at SC State University
The Mauldin, South Carolina, resident is majoring in psychology at SC State.
Note: The following is the fourth in a series of nine articles about SC State’s nine newly inducted Clyburn Scholars, who comprise the largest class in the program’s history.
The Mauldin, South Carolina, resident is one of nine newly inducted Clyburn Scholars in SC State’s Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College.
“A scholar driven by compassion, resilience, and intellectual curiosity, Rhiazia is
passionate about understanding human behavior and addressing mental health disparities, particularly in underserved communities,” said Dr. William H. Whitaker Jr., the Honors College’s dean.
A psychology major, Grant plans to pursue medical school to become a psychiatrist or specialize in forensic psychology, with a mission to create safe, stigma-free environments where mental health is treated with the same urgency and compassion as physical health.
Her journey has been shaped by perseverance and gratitude. Raised by her mother, a Morris College alumna who worked multiple jobs to provide for her family, she learned the importance of sacrifice, education, and faith. Although financial challenges forced her to step away from cheerleading, a sport she loved deeply, Grant redirected that passion into her academics, emerging as a disciplined and determined scholar.
A graduate of Mauldin High School, Grant earned a 4.88 weighted GPA and held leadership roles as a senior student ambassador and officer in both HOSA and Atlas Club. She won first place in Human Growth and Development at the 2024 HOSA State Leadership Conference and received the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award in STEM from the Greenville Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
She’s already making a name for herself as a leader at SC State. Grant was elected freshman class representative in the Student Government Association, where she actively advocates for student engagement, leadership development, and campus improvement. Through the Honors College, she will receive a rigorous, enriching academic environment that integrates research, service, leadership, and professional development.
“Being a Clyburn Scholar is not just a title,” Grant said. “It’s a duty to seek lifelong learning and encourage others to value higher education.”
Along with being a Clyburn Scholar, she has been recognized with several scholarships:
· The Betty S. Boston Memorial Scholarship · The JE Sirrine Scholarship · The South Carolina General Assembly Women’s Caucus Scholarship · The Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation Scholarship · The United Way African American Leadership Scholarship. · The Long Branch Baptist Church Scholarship.“Rhiazia Grant represents the spirit of the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College, embodying intellect, integrity, and impact,” Whitaker said. “Her journey is a testament to perseverance, purpose, and the transformative power of education.
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.