News Summary

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) has awarded $45,000 in scholarships to 15 employees’ children, supporting their higher education aspirations. This program, active since 2009, has provided over $720,000 to more than 200 students. The recipients were chosen based on academic performance and leadership skills. While celebrating this achievement, the community faces severe weather challenges, including thunderstorms predicted to develop, highlighting the importance of education amidst safety concerns.

Aiken, SC – Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) has awarded a total of $45,000 in college scholarships to 15 children of its employees as part of its ongoing commitment to support higher education for the families of its workforce. The 2025 Family Scholarship Awards Ceremony took place recently at Newberry Hall in Aiken, celebrating the accomplishments and aspirations of the scholarship recipients.

The SRNS Family Scholarship program aims to assist graduating high school seniors who are planning to pursue further education. Over the years, SRNS has contributed more than $720,000 in scholarships since the program’s inception in 2009, benefitting over 200 students in their educational endeavors.

Selection of the scholarship recipients is based on various criteria, including academic performance, leadership, and overall achievement. The recipients for this year include:

• Thomas Battey (Aquinas High School, child of Thomas Battey)
• Adrien Beak (Horse Creek Academy, child of Timothy Beak)
• Sara Blume (Fox Creek High School, child of Tonya Tran)
• Alena Crowley (South Aiken Baptist Christian School, child of Alexia Crowley)
• Kaylah Feinauer (Palmetto Independent Educators, child of Daniel Feinauer)
• Victoria Goodson (Aiken High School, child of Tommy Goodson)
• Da Young Han (Greenbrier High School, child of Kai Han)
• Josiah Johnson (Barnwell High School, child of John Johnson)
• Audrey McCurry (Fox Creek High School, child of Daniel McCurry)
• Madelyn McGhee (Augusta Christian High School, child of Marcus McGhee)
• Carter Scott (Lakeside High School, child of Derek Colligan)
• Emma Tang (Greenbrier High School, child of Yun Yen Tang)
• Adam Towner (South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, child of Stacey Towner)
• Robert Watkins (Aiken High School, child of Robert Watkins)
• Richard Zhang (Naperville Central High School, child of Jianhua Zhang)

While celebrating this achievement, the community is also facing severe weather challenges as thunderstorms are forecasted for the area on July 2, 2025. Rain showers are predicted for the morning, with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. The temperature is expected to reach a high of 86°F, with a 60% chance of rain.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Aiken and Barnwell counties, which is effective until 3:30 p.m. on the same day. This warning comes as a weak storm system threatens to bring marble-sized hail and wind gusts of up to 50 mph. Local residents are advised to seek shelter indoors to protect themselves against hazardous lightning conditions and potential localized flooding.

Each year, approximately 25 million lightning strikes occur across the United States, leading to an average of 20 fatalities annually due to lightning. In another alarming update, the Georgia Department of Public Safety reported a fatal incident involving a tree that fell on a vehicle during severe storms in Banks County.

Adding to the list of safety concerns, the NWS had previously issued a warning for Aiken and Edgefield counties, stating that wind gusts could reach up to 60 mph, along with expectations of penny-sized hail, effective until 10 p.m. on July 2, 2025. Residents have been urged to move to an interior room on the lowest floor during severe thunderstorm warnings and to avoid floodwaters while driving.

The SRNS scholarship initiative reflects a long-standing commitment to supporting education while the community prepares for challenging weather conditions. As families celebrate academic accomplishments, they also remain vigilant in navigating the storms ahead.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Local High School Athletes Secure Scholarships for Basketball
Aiken County Celebrates Graduation Ceremonies
University of South Carolina Aiken Introduces New Electrical Engineering Degree
Aiken Technical College Breaks Ground on Nursing Education Center
Aiken Technical College Begins Construction on New Nursing Center
Aiken County Schools Receive Over $290,000 Donation
SRP Federal Credit Union Donates to Aiken County Schools
Celebration of Academic Achievements in Aiken
University of South Carolina Aiken Celebrates Commencement Ceremony
Aiken Electric Cooperative Awards Scholarships to Students

Additional Resources

• The State
• Wikipedia: Thunderstorm
• Island Packet
• Google Search: Weather Alerts
• Fox Weather
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Weather
• WRDW
• Google News: Severe Weather

Author: STAFF HERE AIKEN

The AIKEN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAiken.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Aiken, Aiken County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Aiken Horse Show, Aiken Bluegrass Festival, and polo matches at Whitney Field. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Aiken Chamber of Commerce and the Aiken County Historical Museum, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and tourism that power the local economy such as Bridgestone and the Aiken County Visitors Center. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.