Major donation by David and Christy Douglas will establish endowed fund and scholarships in CCU’s Gupta College of Science
“With their selfless contribution, David and Christy Douglas have not only invested in the future of our students but also reaffirmed the transformative power of education,” said CCU President Michael T. Benson. “Their generosity – an expression of confidence in all that the Gupta College of Science is accomplishing – will have a remarkable impact on shaping the next generation of scientists, mathematicians, and leaders who are conducting hands-on research under the guidance of some the nation’s best faculty members.”
The Douglas’ donation will create a general endowment fund for the Gupta College of Science. The fund is designed to support and expand hands-on experiential learning opportunities for STEM majors, including undergraduate student-centered research, internships, and field course experiences. The donation also will fund the newly established David and Christy Douglas Endowed Scholarship, which will assist students who have financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Recipients must be in-state, full-time students, have a minimum GPA of 2.75, and pursue a degree in the Gupta College of Science.
“I can’t say enough about the generosity of David and Christy Douglas and this transformational gift for our college,” said Chad Leverette, dean of the Gupta College of Science. “These funds will support countless scholarships for STEM students in the Gupta College of Science and provide funds to greatly expand the experiential learning opportunities we provide our students. Our goal is to help students do science in the lab, in the field, on the river, and on the ocean. The gift provided by the Douglas family will greatly expand these distinctive opportunities for our students and will allow many more students to experience these opportunities. We are so very grateful for this gift and what it means for our STEM students. This gift provides a legacy of scientific excellence that will impact so many.”
David D. Douglas Sr. is the president and CEO of Douglas Development LLC, which builds multifamily and independent senior apartment communities as well as student housing complexes. Since 2004, David has been a member of the Coastal Educational Foundation board of directors, including serving as chairman from 2010-2012. He also is a member of CCU’s E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration board of visitors. He served on the Horry County Board of Architectural Review for 14 years. David earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“We believe education to be an essential element to a happy and useful life,” said the Douglases. “Therefore, our gift is targeted to support motivated, disciplined young people, with a GPA of 2.75 or better, to achieve their goals in the various fields of science. We have come to appreciate and respect the wonderful benefits Coastal has to offer its students and this region. It’s been fascinating to watch the growth and vitality of the University, which are a direct result of great leadership through the years.”
Christy Monroe Holliday Douglas, a native of Galivants Ferry, is the author of “The South I Knew.” She serves as the president of Monroe Management, which manages Holliday Associates and other Holliday family assets. Christy, along with her sister, Russell Holliday, is co-director of the Galivants Ferry Stump, which is longest running political gathering in the United States. The Democratic rally first began in 1876. Christy also has served on CCU’s Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts board of visitors and the Horry County Board of Architectural Review. She is a graduate of Ashley Hall and Converse College.
The Douglases have three children and five grandchildren.
Diane Sanders, CCU’s vice president for advancement and alumni engagement, said: “David and Christy Douglas are longtime Horry Country residents who take pride in CCU and watching its growth through the years. They recognize the value of this University and the impact that it has on our students and greater community. The Douglases continue to pour themselves into supporting Horry County, so it is an honor to have them make this generous gift to the University and expand possibilities for experiential learning in the Gupta College of Science. We are thrilled to have a building bear the Douglas name that will serve CCU and our students for many years to come.”
The Gupta College of Science – the largest college at CCU – offers 13 distinctive undergraduate degree programs ranging from biochemistry to psychology, 15 concentrations that provide focused expertise with those degrees, as well as 18 minors and one certificate program. It also offers two master’s degree programs and one doctoral program.
Completed in 2016, Douglas Hall is a 71,150-square-foot building that houses the departments of biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, and marine science. It also includes 40 faculty offices, eight teaching labs for biology and marine science, four 60-seat classrooms, two 45-seat classrooms, one ecology teaching lab, and six small labs for ecology research.