The Greenville Chamber and Greenville County Schools celebrated the success of the 2025-2026 LaunchGVL program on April 15^th with an end-of-year celebration at Spare Time Greenville.

The event brought together participating employers, student interns, business leaders and educators to honor the impact of LaunchGVL, a collaborative initiative designed to connect high school students with meaningful, hands-on internship experiences across Greenville County.

Throughout the program, students gained valuable skills, built professional networks, and explored career pathways aligned with their interests.

As a highlight of the evening, several students were surprised with scholarships to the University of South Carolina Upstate, recognizing their achievements and supporting their continued educational journeys.

Scholarship recipients included:

• Kassidy Bennett — Hope Promise Scholarship, $2,200
• Jeremiah Cannon — Hope Promise Scholarship, $2,200
• Peyton Counts — Hope Promise Scholarship, $2,200
• Lucero Fierros — Hope Promise Scholarship, $2,200
• Deiny Navarro-Bonilla — Promise & Valedictorian Scholarship, $12,000 per year
• Aaron Shiflett — Hope Promise Scholarship, $2,200

The Greenville Chamber Foundation awarded five $1000 scholarships. These scholarship recipients were randomly selected at the event. Recipients included:

• Myles Gardner — Wade Hampton High School
• Hayden Gregory — Virtual
• Juana Francisco — Carolinan High School
• Douglas Neidrick — Mauldin High School
• Juan David Trejo-Chavez — Southside High School

Employer partners were also recognized for their critical role in mentoring and supporting student interns, helping to shape the future workforce while strengthening Greenville County’s talent pipeline. Two employer partners were honored for their outstanding commitment to the LaunchGVL program. These businesses exemplified excellence through their investment in student interns, their role as ambassadors for the program and their dedication to creating meaningful workplace experiences.

• Bright Marketing — Small Business Partner of the Year
• YMCA — Large Business Partner of the Year

The Greenville Chamber and Greenville County Schools remain committed to expanding opportunities through LaunchGVL and continuing to build connections that benefit students, employers, and the broader community.