College of Nursing student Annie Conrad, far left, is the first recipient of the Virginia Lawton Harper Scholarship, made possible by a generous endowment from Stiles and Virginia Harper, at right. Second from left is Dr. Maureen Keefe, dean of the College of Nursing.

Annie Conrad always knew she wanted to be a nurse. Growing up with juvenile diabetes, she spent a lot of time in the hospital where she came to value the caring relationship she established with her nurses.

Now, with the help of longtime MUSC supporters Stiles and Virginia Harper, Conrad is taking her first steps toward making her career dream a reality.

A first-year MUSC College of Nursing student, she is the first recipient of the Virginia Lawton Harper Scholarship, made possible through a $50,000 endowment from the Harpers.

“We are truly honored that the Harpers chose to establish the Virginia Lawton Harper Scholarship in the College of Nursing to support the educational efforts of our students,” said College of Nursing dean Maureen R. Keefe, Ph.D.

The Virginia Lawton Harper Scholarship will be awarded to an incoming College of Nursing student from South Carolina based on academic achievements, financial need, and commitment to and enthusiasm for the profession. Conrad and future recipients will receive scholarship funding for the four semesters they are enrolled in the bachelor of science in nursing program.

By pursuing a career in nursing, Conrad is continuing a family tradition—both her mother and grandmother are nurses. Before coming to MUSC, she attended Winthrop University where she served as mission chairman of the Baptist Student Union and completed mission work with underprivileged children in Freeport, Bahamas. Her experience in the medical field includes work with patients in the Children’s Hospital atrium and volunteer time spent in the Summerville Medical Center emergency room. After completing nursing school, Conrad plans to become involved in medical missions and eventually become a nurse practitioner.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to pursue my career at a such great school with the help of the Harper Scholarship,” Conrad said.

The generosity of Stiles and Virginia Harper extends far beyond the College of Nursing. Their dedication to quality health care has benefitted both the Storm Eye Institute and Children’s Hospital, and their commitment made the Harper Student Center, which bears their name, a reality. Stiles Harper has also been involved with university administration at a number of levels—the Board of Visitors, Health Sciences Foundation Board of Trustees and the Storm Eye Institute Advisory Board.

At the annual Society of 1824 banquet in October, Stiles Harper received the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian award, recognizing his considerable contributions to the state of South Carolina.

“Stiles and Virginia Harper are inspirational in their generosity to the Medical University and their dedication to excellence in education and health care,” Keefe said.