Hearst Foundation Expands Nursing Scholarship Endowment at CSU
March 26, 2012
CHARLESTON, SC – March 23, 2012 – The William Randolph Hearst Foundation recently added a third grant of $100,000 to the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund bringing the Foundation’s total endowment to $300,000. The Hearst Foundation funds mark one of the first major gifts of Charleston Southern University’s Transform capital campaign, designed to grow the University and benefit every field of academic study, every student and faculty member. Specifically, Hearst’s Endowed Scholarship Fund enables CSU’s School of Nursing to compete for, attract and retain nursing students of the highest caliber who will become Christian leaders in our changing world.
Dr. Jairy C. Hunter, Jr., president of Charleston Southern, applauds the Hearst Foundation for their commitment to providing student scholarships. Hunter stated, “The Hearst Foundations have generously provided a significant number of scholarships for worthy college students over the years.”
“The scholarship support from the Hearst Foundation is vital to our nursing students,” added Dr. Tara Hulsey, dean of the Derry Patterson Wingo School of Nursing. “Charleston Southern students would not be able to achieve their dream of becoming a nurse without the gracious support from the Hearst Foundation.”
Sophomore Kiara Ware of Anderson, South Carolina, is a Hearst Endowed Scholarship recipient. “The Hearst Foundation Scholarship has made it possible for me to pursue my goal of graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. I am very thankful,” said Ware.
The Hearst Endowed Scholarship fund provides a Charleston Southern scholarship for first generation, minority undergraduate students majoring in nursing. Students must demonstrate financial need, be South Carolina residents, maintain a 3.0 GPA and be enrolled full-time to be eligible.
The CSU Board of Trustees voted in early 2011 to triple annual enrollment in the School of Nursing from 40 to 120 by 2014. This move seeks to address the increasing enrollment demand and the national nursing shortage. Plans are also under way to double the size of the School of Nursing building to accommodate the increased enrollment.
The Charleston Southern School of Nursing has one of the highest four-year pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) of all accredited B.S. in Nursing programs in South Carolina. CSU’s nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and is a member of the National League for Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
