Georgian College is receiving a $1.5 million endowment to support its new nursing program.
Georgian says the funding from the Joyce Family Foundation, an organization which provides access to education for children and youth with financial needs, is the largest gift they have received and will go towards funding the new bursary program for the Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing program.
Member of the Board of Trustees and local cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Sandy McDonald says, “it brings the board great pleasure to establish a bursary program for Georgian’s nursing students, in support of those who are dedicating their career to caring for others.”
Georgian says four bursaries, valuing at about $4,500 each, will be awarded every year to new full-time students entering into the first year of the program who have shown financial need and have overcome obstacles and adversity. One of the bursaries will be dedicated to a student who self-identifies as a person with Indigenous ancestry.
The four bursaries will also be renewable each year under the assumption the student remains eligible. By the fourth year, it is expected the endowment will be distributing up to $72,000 every year to support nursing students.
Georgian President and CEO Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes says, they are very grateful to the Joyce Family Foundation for recognizing the importance of supporting those who choose to enter the nursing professions.
“The need for nurses in our communities in acute and this very generous and transformational investment will go a long way to ensuring that financial need is not a barrier for any future nurses who study in our new degree program. It is critical to preparing the next generation of nurses for our region,” says West-Moynes.
Georgian says the donation is part of its Frontline Support: Health-Care Heroes Closer to Home campaign, and ensures financial hardships do not prevent aspiring nurses from pursuing a nursing degree.
The college will be welcoming its first batch of nursing students when the program kicks off this September at both its Barrie and Owen Sound campuses.
