Lancaster County School District (LCSD) partnered with the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) Wednesday, August 19, 2026, to officially kick off South Carolina’s 2026 College Application Season at Andrew Jackson High School.
The statewide kickoff marked the first College Application Season event of the year and brought together high school seniors, college representatives, educators and community leaders to help students take an important step toward their future.
Representatives from approximately a dozen colleges and universities were on hand to assist students with the college application process, answer questions and provide valuable information and resources. Students also had the opportunity to connect directly with higher education representatives as they began navigating the application process.
“Filling out a college application is one of the first things you're doing as adults. Deciding whether to go to college is an important decision. And one thing I would let you know, don’t think you have to make all the decisions now,” CHE President and Executive Director, Dr. L. Jeffrey Perez, said. “Fill out the application. Figure out where you want to go and start yourself on a path. You don’t know where your path is going to go, but how can you prepare yourself? That’s by going to college, and that journey starts today.”
Each year, CHE partners with school districts across South Carolina to facilitate College Application Month events for high school seniors. Last year more than 17,700 seniors completed and submitted more than 37,000 college applications.
Lancaster County School District was proud to host the statewide kickoff and help launch this year’s campaign.
“Helping our students see and pursue the opportunities available to them after high school is an important part of our work,” said Dr. Norris Williams, Superintendent of Lancaster County School District. “We are grateful to the Commission on Higher Education for partnering with us and for bringing college representatives directly to our students. This event gave our seniors an opportunity to take that next step with confidence and support.”
The event also featured special guests and community leaders, including Representative Keishan Scott and Senator Allen Blackmon, who joined students and educators in recognizing the importance of college and career opportunities for South Carolina’s students.
LCSD extends special thanks to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, the participating colleges and universities, and all the speakers, elected officials, educators and community partners who helped make the statewide kickoff a success.
The College Application Season campaign will continue throughout the school year as schools and partners across South Carolina provide students with assistance and resources to navigate the college application process.
For Lancaster County School District, the kickoff served as another example of the power of partnerships in creating meaningful opportunities for students and preparing them for success beyond high school.
