Services

Alba Myers Lewis Memorial Scholarship

Dr. Alba Myers Lewis of Orangeburg was a retired educator, and mother to son, Alexander “Mickey” Carrion Lewis, Jr. who was born with hemophilia. After graduating first in her class with a B.S. degree in education from S.C. State in 1946, she went on to receive the M.S. degree in education in 1952. As an undergraduate student, she reigned as both May Queen and Miss South Carolina State College. In 1968, Dr. Lewis earned the Doctorate of Education from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, during an era when this was achieved by very few African American women. Throughout her academic career she specialized in Curriculum Development, Administration, Supervision, Higher Education, Elementary Education and Sociology. She did additional study at Claflin University, New York University, the University of Northern Iowa, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the University of North Carolina. She was certified in the state of South Carolina at all educational levels: elementary school teaching, supervision and administration, and social studies. Dr. Lewis served as a supervising teacher at her beloved Felton Laboratory School 1950-1964. She then became the Associate Supervisor of Directed Teaching at S.C. State from 1968 until 1970, at which time she returned to Felton as its director, serving in that capacity from 1970 until 1971. For the next eight years she was chairperson and professor in the Department of Education, retiring in 1979. She proudly accepted an appointment by then-Governor Richard Riley to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education in 1980 and served until 1988. In 1965, she served on the Governor’s Task Force on Education. Upon her passing, in her will she named Hemophilia of South Carolina as a beneficiary. In her honor, and with love for education, the Chapter has named the Alba Myers Lewis Scholarship in appreciation for her memorial gift.

2024 Award Recipient: Aiden Budde

Hometown: Goose Creek, SC

Graduated: 2024

Institution: Freshman, University of Southern Carolina

Major or intended field of study: Aerospace Engineering

Essay Quote:

“The impact of DGSPD extends far beyond the physical challenges it presents; it has also had a profound emotional and psychological impact on both myself and my family.  I inherited the disorder and so did my sister, so it’s also been there: a constant weight on the family.  The vigilance required to prevent and manage bleeding episodes, the fear of injury and the uncertainty of what each day may bring has all contributed to heightened sense of anxiety and apprehension.  Yet, amidst the challenges, my family has remained a pillar of strength, and support, providing unwavering encouragement, advocacy and love.”