SAR awards scholarship to A.C. Flora student

National Society Sons of the American Revolution scholarship winner, Austin Layden (second from left) of A.C. Flora High School in Columbia, with, (l- r) SCSSAR President Paul Grier, Layden, Dr. Redding I. "Rick" Corbett III, and Lillie Layden. Austin Layden of A.C. Flora High School in Columbia was awarded a scholarship by the South Carolina Society Sons of the American Revolution (SCSSAR) at its annual meeting April 18 in Santee.

Austin graduated in June with an International Baccalaureate Diploma. This is a rigorous curriculum that involves academics, athletics, and service hours.

Each year the SCSSAR awards a scholarship to a high school senior. It is not awarded solely on academic achievement, but also on demonstration of those characteristics that best reflect the principles and beliefs of the SAR, such as character, good citizenship, patriotism, school and non- schoolrelated extra- curricular activities, and well articulated, achievable goals.

In addition to an outstanding academic record in a demanding curriculum, Austin has completed more than 150 service hours and was the first student in his IB class to do so. He was a delegate to Palmetto Boys State and was a participant in the YMCA Youth in Government program. He was a volunteer at Pets Inc. and the Columbia Music Festival Association. He completed the significant journey to earn the Eagle Scout award and then as an Eagle Scout he actively supported friends in their quest to earn this award.

At St. Martins- in- the- Fields Episcopal Church, Austin has served as an acolyte for the past seven years. This last year he was senior acolyte and the recipient of the senior silver cross award. He participated in junior varsity and varsity soccer at A.C. Flora and cross country.

Among other school activities he was a member of the Young Explorers Challenge team, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Junior Class Council. He is a Richland One Scholar and received the IB Middle Years Certificate. He was a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and the National Honor Society. He was selected as a Presbyterian College Fellow, a Newberry College Junior Scholar, a Wofford Scholar, a Capstone Scholar, and a Collegiate Scholar at the University of Alabama. In addition, he received the Dean's Engineering Scholarship at the University of Alabama.

This fall Austin will attend Clemson University where he will major in mechanical engineering. After graduation he plans to attend graduate school and study aeronautic engineering. Austin is the son of Pat and Greg Layden.