The J. Randal Lee Nursing Scholarship is named for the president of the S.C. Health Care Association, a statewide nonprofit association founded in 1955 that represents more than 90 percent of the state's long-term care facilities.

The scholarship represents a true commitment by a major healthcare organization to address the critical nursing shortage in South Carolina and to educate the next generation of nurses for the state, said Mary Ann Parsons, dean of USC's College of Nursing.

"The S.C. Health Care Association is to be commended for taking the initiative to make nursing education possible for more students," Parsons said. "The association keenly understands the problems associated with the nursing shortage and has the vision to address the educational needs of our nursing students."

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