Education briefs

Scholarship resources at the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry
The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry (CFL) manages more than 50 scholarships to help students in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton counties pursue higher education. Since 1995, the foundation has connected donor funds with students based on a variety of eligibility criteria.

Scholarships fall into several categories, including merit-based, need-based, service-oriented, hardship recognition and awards for nontraditional students. Many combine academic achievement with financial need, and some are tied to specific schools, majors or extracurricular activities.

Applications are handled through CFL’s online portal. Students create an account, complete a universal application and, if eligible, answer supplemental questions for individual awards. Supporting materials such as transcripts, recommendation letters and FAFSA documentation may be required. Returning applicants can often use a streamlined follow-up process.

Deadlines vary but most fall between mid-January and mid-April. The Heritage Classic Foundation also partners with CFL to award scholarships to students in Beaufort and Jasper counties, with applications opening each fall.

Awards range from a few hundred dollars for textbooks and supplies to multi-year commitments worth $20,000. Because criteria differ, CFL encourages students to review each opportunity carefully and begin applications early.

More information, including eligibility quizzes, full guidelines and deadlines, is available at cf-lowcountry.org/students/find-a-scholarship

Bluffton High School has welcomed Lauren Norris as its new school nurse.
Norris, a Boston native, previously worked for more than 20 years at Beaufort Memorial Hospital as a registered nurse in the emergency room, oncology and medical-surgical units.

Outside of work, she enjoys the beach, cruising, sports, music and spending time with her family, especially watching her two sons play. She said her goal at Bluffton High is to help keep Bobcat Nation healthy and to make a positive difference in the school community.

JPII middle schoolers learn science safety through hands-on lessons
John Paul II Catholic School middle schoolers kicked off the semester with lab sessions designed to show that safety is as essential as curiosity.

Science teacher Nicole Schatzle led sixth- and eighth-graders through interactive activities that blended problem-solving with practical skills. Sixth-graders investigated a staged “lab crime scene,” where they identified safety errors in a mock experiment and discussed how to correct them. They later tested how Pixie Sticks dissolve in different amounts of water, practicing safe measuring, pouring and cleanup along the way.

Eighth-graders took part in the “Eye Scramble” experiment, which underscored the importance of protective eyewear. By comparing water to clear chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and observing how egg whites reacted, students saw firsthand the risks of skipping goggles in the lab.

Schatzle said the goal was to show students that good habits in middle school labs prepare them for more advanced work in high school and beyond.

Through teamwork, problem-solving and plenty of lively experiments, students walked away with a clear message: science is most rewarding when safety is second nature.

To submit educational news for consideration in future issues, email editor@blufftonsun.com.