Winners have been named for CHE's inaugural FAFSA First Challenge, a statewide competition designed to encourage high schools to increase completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) among graduating seniors.

The FAFSA First Challenge recognizes schools that go above and beyond in helping students and families complete the FAFSA, which serves as the gateway to federal grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities and other forms of financial aid. The competition was created to increase FAFSA completion rates among South Carolina seniors while celebrating schools that demonstrate exceptional commitment to college and career readiness through FAFSA completion. 

A total of 24,333 FAFSAs were submitted by the class of 2026 (43.73 percent), a 4.43 percent increase from the previous year. 

"The FAFSA plays an important role in supporting one of the Commission's core values: Accessibility to higher education for South Carolina students and families," said Dr. Gerrick Hampton, CHE Associate Director for Student Affairs. "The FAFSA First Competition is a new initiative developed by the CHE College Access Team that seeks to recognize high schools doing outstanding work to help students complete the FAFSA, while simultaneously encouraging their peers to achieve similar success in increasing FAFSA completion rates. We are extremely proud of our first and second place winners and look forward to future competitions."

This year's competition was exceptionally close in several classifications, underscoring the dedication and persistence demonstrated by participating schools across the state.

2025-26 FAFSA First Challenge Winners

Class 5A

• First Place: Fort Mill High School - 62.37%
• Second Place: Catawba Ridge High School - 62.26%

Class 4A

• First Place: Gray Collegiate Academy - 70.59%
• Second Place: Gilbert High School - 66.32%

Class 3A

• First Place: Governor's School for Science and Mathematics - 87.33%
• Second Place: Greenville Technical Charter High School - 84.73%

Class 2A

• First Place: Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities - 80.17%
• Second Place: Mayo High School for Math, Science and Technology - 79.10%

Class 1A

• First Place: High School for Health Careers (HCS) Scholars Academy - 91.11%
• Second Place: Aiken Scholars Academy - 78.26%

"We appreciate the opportunity to be recognized for the FAFSA First Competition award through the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education," said Dr. Brian Newsome, principal of 4A division winner Gray Collegiate Academy. "Our guidance department, led by Mrs. Judi Bledsoe, does a phenomenal job preparing our students for college and beyond. This award is further evidence that all students at Gray are put first, and I can't thank our entire guidance department enough for their hard work and dedication to our students."

About the FAFSA First Challenge

The FAFSA First Challenge is administered by the CHE College Access Team as part of the annual College Goal SC FAFSA completion campaign facilitated by CHE at hundreds of schools across the state. The competition recognizes high schools that demonstrate outstanding efforts to support FAFSA completion among graduating seniors, helping students unlock financial aid opportunities and prepare for postsecondary success.

The data used in this competition were obtained from the FAFSA Completion Data Dashboard maintained by the South Carolina Tuition Grants Commission.

CHE plans to continue the FAFSA First Challenge in future years to encourage even greater participation and FAFSA completion rates across the state.

Early Bird Award winners were also announced earlier this year for the highest completion rates as of Feb. 1. The winners were: 

• 5A: Catawba Ridge High School - 50.13%
• 4A: Gray Collegiate Academy - 51.63%
• 3A: Governor's School for Science and Mathematics - 84.00%
• 2A: Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities - 70.69%
• 1A: HCS Scholars Academy High - 82.22%