Elvington family creates scholarship at Coastal Carolina University
The scholarship, named for the late former president of the Coastal Carolina University Alumni Association, will be awarded to a qualified graduate from Aynor High School. Another Horry County public school graduate will receive the annual scholarship should there be no qualified applicant from Aynor High School.
The scholarship is being endowed by donations made on behalf of the Elvington family totaling $30,000. The Elvington family has committed $7,500 to the scholarship; Will and Audrey Garland have committed $7,500; and the Coastal Carolina University Alumni Association has committed $15,000.
Elvington was employed by Coastal Carolina University from 1974 to 1990 in a number of roles including bookstore manager and conference director with graduate and continuing education. He earned a master's degree and Ed.D. from the University of South Carolina while Coastal Carolina University was a part of the USC system. Elvington's family members all have been students at Coastal Carolina University; his wife Linda earned a master's degree; their daughter Ashley Elvington Small graduated in 2002; and son Rusty, who graduated in 2008, is enrolled in the MBA program.
"Robert Elvington was one of those rare individuals who proved that if you want to accomplish something and you are motivated and dedicated, you can find a way to succeed," said Will Garland, senior vice president of finance and administration at the University and close friend of the Elvington family. "This University has directly impacted the lives of the Elvington family, and this gift is a way that they can in turn extend a helping hand to students for generations to come."
"Robert Elvington was such a great friend to our association, and this scholarship will forever honor him for all that he did as an alumnus of Coastal Carolina University," said Jean Ann Brakefield, director of Alumni Relations.