David and Fran Long of Conway have donated a parcel of land in Horry County to Coastal Carolina University. As part of the agreement, proceeds from CCU's sale of the property will be used to establish an endowed scholarship in memory of David's aunt, who willed the land to the couple. The Mary Brittie Long Endowed Scholarship in Nursing will be the first scholarship to assist students in CCU's nursing completion program. The gift was made in support of the University's I'M IN endowment campaign, which has a goal of increasing CCU's endowment $20 million by 2020. Learn more about the campaign at I'M IN.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be enrolled in CCU's nursing completion program, have a GPA of 2.75 or higher and demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to students from Horry County.

Mary Brittie Long (1901-1994) graduated from the Mullins Hospital School of Nursing in Mullins in 1924. She practiced as a registered nurse for many years at Conway Hospital and as a private duty nurse.

"Aunt Brittie was a special lady to both of us," said David Long, who owned Long Construction Co. in Conway for more than 30 years. "There were seven siblings in her family and they all went to college. She really valued higher education. Since there were no scholarships in the nursing program, we thought it would be very fitting to establish this scholarship in Aunt Brittie's name."

Fran Long, who worked in nursing and public health for more than 30 years, has been a teaching associate in CCU's nursing completion program since January 2012.

"Through my teaching, I have seen many types of students who are in need of financial support to attend college," Fran Long said. "I was very fortunate that I received scholarship money when I went to college. I truly wish we could offer every student a little help to show them that we are here to support them financially if they need it. Through this scholarship, our goal is to support and grow Coastal's nursing program."

The nursing program, which reported a 100 percent job placement rate for graduating seniors for the 2015-16 academic year, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Learn more about CCU's nursing completion program at nursing.