Meet Our College Scholars

Investing in the Next Generation

At The Sandbox, we believe every person has the potential to Do Stuff That Matters.

Sometimes, all it takes is someone who believes in you.

Our College Scholar Program exists to encourage and invest in young adults whose lives have been shaped by childhood illness, extraordinary challenges, or remarkable resilience. As they pursue college, trade school, or career training, we want them to know they have a village standing beside them, cheering them on every step of the way.

This vision was born during one of the most difficult seasons in our Co-Founder Neil Campolungo’s life. While facing a life-changing diagnosis, Neil spent months taking daily gratitude walks, reflecting not on his own circumstances, but on how he could continue helping others. Those conversations became the foundation for a program centered on purpose, encouragement, and the belief that investing in people creates a ripple effect that lasts for generations.

As Neil often says:

“Bringing improvement into the lives of others isn’t just about action. It’s about intention. It’s about doing the kind of work that matters, that lifts someone up, even in a small way.”

Our scholars aren’t defined by what they’ve overcome. They’re defined by who they’re becoming. They are future healthcare professionals, educators, artists, business leaders, innovators, and difference-makers. They represent hope, perseverance, and the incredible impact that happens when a community chooses to invest in someone’s future.

James Govan

James Govan is currently attending Central Piedmont Community College, where he’s pursuing a career in Pharmacy Technology. A longtime member of The Sandbox family, James is thoughtful, kind, and quietly confident. He has overcome extraordinary medical challenges, including kidney disease, heart complications, multiple surgeries, years of dialysis, and a kidney transplant at just six years old.

Yet James has never allowed his diagnosis to define him.

An accomplished artist with a vivid imagination, James has always used creativity as a source of strength and healing. Supported by his devoted mother and mentored by longtime Sandbox friend Dave Maloney, he continues to grow into a compassionate young man whose resilience inspires everyone around him.

James reminds us that true strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s found in quiet perseverance, unwavering faith, and the determination to keep moving forward.

Cianne Davis

Cianne Davis brings energy, compassion, and determination everywhere she goes. A longtime member of a Sandbox Hero Family and one of our College Scholars, she began her college journey at Clemson University carrying a story marked by both profound loss and incredible hope.

Born during her brother’s cancer journey and just a baby when he passed away, Cianne understands firsthand the challenges siblings often carry. Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, she has transformed them into empathy, resilience, and a deep desire to make a difference.

Cianne is courageous, compassionate, and unafraid to embrace new opportunities. She leads with hope, encourages those around her, and reminds us that even life’s most difficult chapters can become the foundation for something beautiful.

The Future Is Bright

Our College Scholars are more than scholarship recipients. They’re part of The Sandbox family.

As they pursue their dreams, they’ll always have a community celebrating their successes, encouraging them through challenges, and reminding them they never walk alone.

Because when we invest in people, we invest in the future. And that’s one more way we Do Stuff That Matters.