Kiwanis Club of Beaufort --- South Carolina CHARTERED JANUARY 6, 1983

Beaufort, SC – June 5 – The Kiwanis Club of Beaufort recently awarded $10,000 in Scholarships to five graduating students in the Beaufort area. The Jim Givens Scholarship, named to honor one of the initial founders of the Beaufort Kiwanis Club, is awarded based on exceptional academic achievement, character, community service and work ethic. The Tommy Karns Scholarship, named in honor of the Kiwanian who best exemplified the Kiwanis goal of service to children, is based on financial need, high academic achievement, service to others and personal character.

The Jim Givens Scholarships were awarded to Miranda and Ashley Maile of Beaufort High School and Lucius Laffite of Beaufort Academy. Miranda and her twin sister Ashley were both in the top 5 of the graduating class at Beaufort High School, maintaining a GPA over 4.9 while taking a course load that included over 14 IB and AP courses. Despite this demanding academic schedule both Miranda and Ashley also served the community at the Relay for Life, CAPA ghost tours, recruit wrap, and beach sweep. Miranda and Ashley mentored elementary school students, volunteering their time to help younger children to be successful in school. Ashley and Miranda helped serve Thanksgiving dinners to the needy and many times visited assisted living homes to spend time with the elderly.

Ashley and Miranda were in the French and Spanish Honor Societies as well as the National Honor Society and International Baccalaureate Society. They were on the JV and Varsity Cheerleader squads and kept up with all their activities as they cheered the Beaufort High Football Team throughout the extended state playoffs. Miranda suffered a knee injury early in the season but kept up with the cheerleading squad. Both Miranda and Ashley worked part time in addition to all their school and community activities.
                                    
This year the Kiwanis Club found that Miranda and Ashley were not just identical twins, but identical in their exceptional academic achievement, service to the community, and personal character. As a result a tie was declared by the Jim Givens committee charged with awarding the scholarships from the 12 nominations submitted. The Beaufort Kiwanis Club voted to award both Ashley and Miranda each a Jim Givens Scholarship. Both plan to attend the University of South Carolina this fall.

Lucius Laffite graduated from Beaufort Academy near the top of his class after a very active four years. Lucius was in the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and was a class officer. He worked with the Beaufort Youth Initiative and was a member of the film club, was a literary meet representative and was nominated for Boy's State. In the community Lucius helped at Habitat for Humanity, the Relay for Life, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Youth Group. He played on the varsity tennis team at Beaufort Academy and won a coach's award as well as playing on the Lacrosse Team..

Lucius continues to be an exceptional young man when away from school. He formed his own company, called CRABCO, and contributed part of the profits to local charities. He was involved in the Little Red Dog Foundation and volunteered to help put together specialized bikes for children with unusual physical needs. He was a leader and was looked up to by the many young people he helped through his community service. Lucius plans to attend Wofford College.

The Tommy Karns Kiwanis Scholarships were awarded to Jalisa Alston of Battery Creek High School and Brandon Bennett. Brandon is the first home schooled student to receive the Tommy Karns Scholarship. Jalisa graduated in the top 5 of her class and maintained over a 4.0 GPA while taking the most challenging course load available at Battery Creek. Jalisa was successful in over 11 IB and AP courses. As an IB scholar she was named in Who's Who among American High School Students and the National Outstanding Achievement Academy. She was a member of many school organizations including the FBLA and FCCLA.

Outside of school Jalisa was a math tutor, using her skills to help younger children, performed in youth choir, participated in the Bountiful Basket Program and the March of Dimes. Jalisa plans to attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia in the fall.

Brandon Bennett graduated from High School with a 4.25 GPA and excellent SAT scores. Brandon participated in the Year Book Committee, church choir, food drives, AWANAS Club, and was a regular visitor to retirement homes. He works at Chick Fil-A where he started as a team member and was promoted to shift supervisor.

Brandon's contributions away from school have also been impressive. Every summer he has attended missionary trips to such diverse locales as Ukraine, South Africa and China. During these trips he has taught English as a second language, Vacation Bible School, and worked in orphanages and nursing homes. Brandon wrote that it was "fulfilling to be able to help so many of those in need financially, spiritually, and physically". Brandon plans to attend Liberty University.