Big Spring Herald

Broughton Foundation continues to invest in the community

- Special to the Herald Howard College

Christmas came a little early this year for Howard College nursing students and their program thanks to a recent gift from the G.C Broughton, Jr. Foundation (Foundation).

The $250,000 gift will fund full tuition, fees, and books for current nursing program students on the Big Spring campus as well as the purchase of a new Demo Dose Med Dispenser system that will be utilized in the simulation lab.

“This is such a wonderful gift of education for our nursing students,” said Dr. Cheryl T. Sparks, President. “We are so grateful to the G.C. Broughton, Jr. Foundation for their support of our students as well as their investment in the success of our college and community. When Jim

Weaver, Secretary-Treasurer called to share this benevolent action on behalf of the Foundation for our students and faculty, it was overwhelmi­ng knowing what these students and faculty have experience­d.”

With the current demand on the healthcare industry in the midst of the pandemic, the Foundation saw this as an opportunit­y to help the nursing students which in turn will make it easier for them to finish their degrees and certificat­es and enter the workforce. The waves of benefit from the gift will be far reaching as it touches the students, the college, the healthcare industry and the Howard County community at large.

The donation will provide the full tuition, fees, and books for approximat­ely 52 nursing students that are currently enrolled in the Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) program that will be graduating in May 2021, enrolled in the LVN to Associate Degree Nursing (AND/RN) Transition nursing program that will graduate in October 2021, and enrolled in the first and second year AND/RN program that will be graduating in May 2021 and May 2022, respective­ly.

“Our nursing students have shown a lot of grit and determinat­ion as they have been getting their education and preparing to enter the healthcare industry during the middle of a global pandemic” added Sparks. “Assisting them with the cost of their education and helping relieve a little of their stress through this generous donation was the impetus of the Foundation’s gift and is a real game changer for them. Our students and faculty have courageous­ly battled through clinicals while watching our stellar health care profession­als in their art and science of serving others.”

The Demo Dose Med Dispenser system that will be purchased with some of the

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