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.

2025 Award Recipient: David Robert Dietz

Institution: Bob Jones University

Major or intended field of study: Theology, Biblical Counseling

Essay Quote:

“I am the oldest child in my family. I have 4 younger siblings. We were placed in foster care due to extreme physical abuse. We were adopted by loving parents when I was 5 years old. My brother and I have a bleeding disorder called Hemophilia which can really inhibit our lives and most certainly our self-esteem because of its limitations. Our parents never let that become a crutch for us. Because of our opportunity to be homeschooled, I have been able to participate in many things in our community. I have served in soup kitchens for the homeless, couched youth basketball for Upwards, taught elementary through middle school in Awana’s Club, and the most rewarding work in the local Foster Care closet for children entering foster care. I have been able to be a counselor in VBS for elementary children and speaking to them about not allowing your circumstances limit your choices. My family and many adult influences have helped me form an identity that is not from being adopted, having hemophilia, overcoming early trauma, or being bi-racial in an all-white family; it comes from knowing Jesus Crist and understanding he created my story and everything and everyone in it. However, all of these trails have created a perseverance to never give up, the knowledge that hard work is always with it, and understanding that means this is the only pathway to success. As much as my parents would like to, they simply cannot afford to completely pay for college. Id chosen, I know that I will work hard, and not squander this opportunity.”