The Horry County Higher Education Commission (HCHEC) has established two new scholarship programs that will benefit outstanding local students who want to attend Coastal Carolina University. Each scholarship awards $2,500 per academic year for up to four years.

The Commission recently voted to create four Leadership Scholarships and two Visual and Performing Arts scholarships to be awarded to qualifying Horry County students.

The Horry County Higher Education Commission Leadership Scholarships are designed to promote service and citizenship and to recognize students for their leadership, volunteerism and academic excellence. To qualify, applicants must have earned at least a 2.5 high school grade point average through their junior year and have an established record of community service. It will be the first scholarship of its kind at Coastal Carolina University.

The Horry County Higher Education Commission Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship is designed to assist exceptionally talented Horry County seniors who plan to major in art, music, musical theater or dramatic arts. This scholarship will also require a 2.5 high school grade point average, among other criteria.

These new scholarships will replace the HCHEC Academic Scholarships, which have been awarded to Horry County students for many years. HCHEC will continue to support the 23 students attending Coastal Carolina on academic scholarships. The academic scholarships were originally created to cover tuition. The commission recently voted to change those guidelines because of recent changes in the Life Scholarship Program.

About 65 percent of Coastal Carolina's students receive some form of financial aid, which is comparable to the national average.

For additional information about the HCHEC scholarships, contact the Scholarship Office at Coastal Carolina University or your local high school guidance counselor.