In 2025, South Carolina Humanities awarded scholarships to one undergraduate student and one graduate student who have declared a major or are enrolled in an advanced degree program in the humanities. After careful consideration, the Board of Directors of SC Humanities chose Armani Canty, who is pursuing a BA in English at Lander University, and Zachary Lemhouse, who is working on a PhD in American history at the University of South Carolina, as recipients of the 2025 Student Scholarships.
Armani Canty was born and raised in Cottageville, SC with her parents and her older brother. Since she was a child, reading and writing have always been her passion, and she decided she wanted to make a career out of it for the rest of her life. In 2023, she committed to Lander University as a Professional Writing Major. Throughout her college career, she has developed as a new person as well as a better writer. She spends her free time as a tutor at Lander’s Writing Center helping other students and as a Presidential Ambassador, where she gives tours to prospective families. In February 2025, she presented her first piece of undergraduate research at the Southern Humanities Conference on the impact of AI on creativity and art. This year, she hopes to publish more research and further develop her Professional Writing major and Public Relations minor. After graduating, Armani hopes to use her degree to work in journalism and public relations.
Zachary Lemhouse holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He graduated this spring with a Master of Arts in Public History from the University of South Carolina in Columbia and is entering their PhD program in the fall. Zachary spent five years teaching in South Carolina public schools before changing careers to work as a public historian. During his time in the classroom, Zachary was recognized at the district, state, and national levels for his contributions to history education. His current scholarship is focused on the Black struggle for civil rights during the Reconstruction Era. Zachary would like to thank South Carolina Humanities for supporting his continuing education and scholarship.
Scholarship winners are selected by the Board of Directors, who enjoy learning about the work of our state’s budding humanists. “The board members of South Carolina Humanities are thrilled to be recognizing Armani and Zachary in this significant way while encouraging other students to pursue studies in the humanities,” said Board Chair Jennifer Thomas.
SC Humanities has offered student fellowships and scholarships since 2013. Twenty undergraduate and graduate students have benefited.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
