💸 The money

• $6 billion for scholarships and grants
• $180 million for SmartState programs, which established Research Centers for Economic Excellence at Clemson, MUSC, and USC
• $203 million for technology upgrades
• $754 million for other higher education programs, like enhancing opportunities for low-income and educationally disadvantaged students

• $517 million for primary education (grades K-5) enhancement programs in reading, math, science, and social studies
• $201 million for school buses (think: 2,600+ vehicles)
• $104 million for Education Accountability Act programs
• $294 million for other K-12 educational programs, like providing equipment and resources to schools

🎓 Scholarships + grants

• LIFE Scholarship
• SC HOPE Scholarship
• Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
• And more

• Make Music Day 2024 | Friday, June 21 | 10 a.m.-9 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | Free | Celebrate music with more than 1,000 around the world with a “Ruckus Hour” and music lessons.
• Mai Serenity 2nd Annual Jewelry Show | Friday, June 21 | 6:15-8:30 p.m. | Girl Scouts of South Carolina - Mountains to Midlands, 1107 Williams St., Columbia | $15-$100 | See beautiful custom jewelry pieces with performances, games, music, fundraising, and light refreshments.
• Friday Night Laser Lights | Friday, June 21 | 6-10 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | Enjoy special shows featuring lasers choreographed to iconic music inside the museum’s digital dome Planetarium.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Carolina Mudcats | Friday, June 21 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $6-$18 | Enjoy a Friday night game with a special giveaway included.*

• Dancing with the Palmetto State Stars | Saturday, June 22 | 7 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St., Columbia | $63 | Stars from around SC will be paired with a professional ballroom dancer to show us their best tango, salsa, foxtrot, and more.
• Soda City Poetry Festival | Saturday, June 22 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy a day filled with poetry, spoken word, creativity, and community.
• Columbia Sailing Club - Open House | Saturday, June 22-Sunday, Aug. 11 | Times vary | Columbia Sailing Club, 292 Shuler Rd., Columbia | Free | Learn about Columbia Sailing Club’s public programs: summer camps, private sailing lessons, and youth sailing.
• Columbia’s 8th Shrimp and Grits Fest | Saturday, June 22 | Seawell’s Food Caterers, 1125 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | $25-$45 | Area restaurants will compete in Columbia’s 8th Shrimp and Grits Fest and one restaurant will be named Columbia’s best.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Carolina Mudcats | Saturday, June 22 | 6:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $6-$18 | Bluey at the Ballpark: Join the Fireflies as they welcome Bluey to Segra Park with a post-game fireworks show.*

• Public Tour: Cornerstones of the Collection | Sunday, June 23 | 1-2 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Free | From corner to corner, see key works in the CMA Collection from around the globe and from ancient to modern.
• Black Eats Week 803 | Monday, June 17-Sunday, June 23 | Multiple locations, Columbia | Price of purchase | Black Eats Week aims to highlight Black-owned restaurants, eateries and establishments throughout the region.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Carolina Mudcats | Sunday, June 23 | 5:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $6-$18 | Negro League Celebration: Join the Fireflies as they salute and pay homage to those who help make baseball a game everyone can play.*

• Well, hello summer. Temperatures could reach into the triple digits over the weekend and next week. WLTX cautions Columbians to stay hydrated + that the extra humidity could bring active weather conditions. (WTLX)

• Fun fact: the Carolina Panthers played their first season in Memorial Stadium. The Panthers are heading back to Clemson for their annual fan fest on Thursday, Aug. 1. The event will feature an open team practice + fireworks. (The State)

• $4.25 million — that’s the grant amount the National Park Service gave USC to restore the historic Florence C. Benson Elementary School in Columbia. The grant will fund infrastructural improvements and preserve civil rights history.

• Steel Hands is inviting Cola to its annual Summer Luau happening on Saturday, June 29. Don your tropical attire + enjoy a new beer release, snow cones, games, special food and drinks, and live music.

• One door closes, another one opens. Restaurant owners from Camden + other towns in the Carolinas came to Alodia’s Cucina’s auction to purchase items that will help them expand their restaurant businesses. (WLTX)

• Texas A&M is a must-win game for Shane Beamer + South Carolina’s football program. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the South Carolina Gamecocks with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
  

• Kick off your holiday weekend with Charlotte FC on Wednesday, July 3, as the Boys in Blue take on Inter Miami CF at the Bank of America Stadium. Experience the thrill of an MLS Eastern Division matchup, with tickets starting at $50. Snag tix.*

• Renewal by Andersen^® windows combine stunning beauty with energy-efficient design. Buy one, get one 40% off + get $200 off your order for a limited time.*

The rules

• The contest begins today, Friday, June 21 + ends tomorrow, Saturday, June 22 at 8 p.m.
• Film your best clips at any of the mentioned locations.
• Clips must be filmed on those two days to be eligible + must be submitted by 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Awards