USC Lancaster receives $600,000 scholarship bequest

Special to TIMES

USC Lancaster has received a scholarship bequest of approximately $600,000, the single largest such donation from an individual in the campus' history.

The James Edward Dodds and Mary Morse Dodds Scholarship will be used to assist students who graduate from any South Carolina public school in furthering their education at the University of South Carolina Lancaster.

The generous donor, Mary Morse Dodds, was a native Kentuckian who lived in the Lancaster community for more than 60 years. An independent and educated woman, she believed in higher education and wanted to give others in her community an opportunity to pursue their dream of obtaining a college degree.

“With her bequest to USC Lancaster, Mrs. Dodds has provided an exemplary model of foresight for others to consider," said Stan Johnson, president of the USC Lancaster Educational Foundation. "This is a terrific example of how a gift of this nature can benefit the community for years to come and it was a truly wonderful thing for her to do. It has a lasting impact on the University and on the lives of the students who receive the scholarships."

USC Lancaster currently has an extensive scholarship program and awards some 75 scholarships annually. This Dodds bequest will allow USC Lancaster to further expand its scholarship program, thus assisting students in pursuing their education.

The scholarship's revenue comes at a good time for both students and the University because of the continued rise in the cost of college.

“This bequest is another example of the tremendous support that this community has given USC Lancaster and its students over the years,” said John Catalano, campus dean.

For more information about scholarship opportunities or endowments at USC Lancaster, call Ralph Garris, director of development, at 803-313-7026.

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