By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
Bolivia NC — For Brunswick Community College (BCC) nursing student Sarah Long, a lifelong commitment to caring for others has earned national recognition.
Long was selected as a 2026 Chime Workforce Scholar, one of just 200 students nationwide to receive the $1,000 scholarship awarded through the Chime Scholars Foundation and Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. The scholarship recognizes students preparing for careers in high-demand fields while demonstrating academic excellence and leadership.
Long’s passion for healthcare began at age 11 while helping care for her terminally ill grandmother, an experience that inspired her pursuit of nursing. After high school, she joined Arbor Landing and worked her way from a kitchen employee to a personal care assistant and certified medication technician. Today, she works in memory care, a role she finds especially rewarding.
Enrolled at BCC since Spring 2024, Long earned her Certified Nurse Aide credential before being accepted into the Associate Degree Nursing program in May 2025. She is expected to graduate in May 2027.
Beyond the classroom, Long has served as a Student Ambassador, represented the college at community events, and currently serves as her nursing cohort representative.
Looking ahead, Long plans to continue her education at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and eventually earn a Master of Science in Nursing.
Having spent much of her childhood in foster care, Long hopes her story encourages others facing adversity.
“You can’t let their ideas define who you are or what you’ll become,” Long said. “I’m proof that you can be anything you want to be if you’re willing to put in the work.”
Her selection as a Chime Workforce Scholar reflects both her academic achievements and her determination to make a difference through nursing.
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