Public Leadership Scholarships    

            The Public Leadership programs enable future leaders to attend Furman University.  They help scholars exchange ideas with civic, political and business leaders from around the globe in order to gain the foundation and understand the theories necessary to make an impact on their own communities.  These scholars will give back to their community, become leaders, and make a difference.

Hollingsworth Scholarship                     

John D. Hollingsworth, a highly successful Greenville inventor and textile machinery manufacturer, attended Furman University in the late 1930s.  In his will he stipulated that his company, John D. Hollingsworth on Wheels, and his extensive statewide real estate holdings be converted into a philanthropic trust called the Hollingsworth Funds.  As one of the primary beneficiaries of the Hollingsworth Funds, Furman honors Mr. Hollingsworth’s generosity with Scholarship awards in his name.

The Hollingsworth Scholars program enables outstanding South Carolina students to attend Furman University.  Just as Mr. Hollingsworth reinvested his financial resources in the state, Furman encourages more of South Carolina’s best and brightest students to remain here and benefit from its high quality, engaging liberal arts education.  Hollingsworth Scholars will become future leaders in Greenville and in the state of South Carolina.

Students interested in the Hollingsworth Scholarship must submit the Merit Scholarships Application and a recommendation from a Community Leader.

The Hollingsworth Scholars Award will include:

• $25,000 scholarship, renewable for three additional years with a Furman cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or higher
• Study Abroad Scholarship of $1,000
• Summer internship or research experience
• Participation in the Hollingsworth Seminar which will connect Furman students with government and civic leaders to foster community service involvement and a better understanding of issues facing South Carolina.

Townes Scholarship

Charles H. Townes, a Greenville native, graduated from Furman University in 1935.  He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his contributions to the invention of the laser and maser.  His foundational research opened the door for a vast array of inventions and discoveries now in common use throughout the world.    In 1,000 Years, 1,000 People: Ranking the Men and Women Who Shaped the Millennium, Townes was recognized as one of the most influential people of the last 1,000 years.  Because of his contributions to the field of Physics and his many contributions to our community, Furman named our science complex and this scholarship program in his honor.

The Townes Scholars program enables outstanding students from outside of South Carolina to attend Furman University.  It encourages more of the best and brightest from across the country to benefit from our high quality, engaging liberal arts education.  Furman is confident the Scholars will become future leaders in their home states and communities. 

Students interested in the Townes Scholarship must submit the Merit Scholarships Application and a recommendation from a Community Leader.

The Townes Scholarship includes:

• $25,000 scholarship, renewable for three additional years with a Furman cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or higher
• Study Abroad Stipend of $1,000
• Summer internship or research experience
• Participation in the Public Leadership Scholars Seminar connects Furman students with government and civic leaders to foster community service involvement and a better understanding of issues facing our nation.

To learn from the rich variety of political and academic leaders who visit Furman every year through its academic departments, the Public Leadership Scholars have special invitations to participate closely with these distinguished guests and discover first hand what it takes to make a difference in their communities and states.  Scholars will be expected to live on campus all four years and become fully involved in the Furman community.  They may be enrolled in any academic major