For 55 years, the Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club has been funding scholarships for local students at the high school level.
- 29 years ago, the Rotary Club made their first donation to Northwest Florida State College in the amount of $10,000. Since that time, the FWB Rotary has given a total of $209,650.
- The Rotary has created 3 scholarship medallions, as well as an endowed teaching chair, which supports a faculty member at the college.
On Wednesday, April 27th, the Rotarians continued their generosity and donated $100,000 in support of the Nursing Program at the NWFSC.
In the 1960’s and 70’s, the FWB Rotary Club identified a need for nurses in the area. That was the beginning of their support for a nursing program at the college.
“In the late-70s, as this was growing, the state was matching funds for donations to college foundations,” said Joe Meyer, President of The Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club Scholarship, Inc. “So our club donated $40,000, the State matched $35,000 and the hospital donated $150,000 to initially start the nursing school.”
Meyer says that the money comes from the club’s fundraisers over the years.
“Since 1967 the FWB Rotary Club has been committed to impacting academic growth in our community thru our scholarship programs,” added Meyer. “This significant donation to the NWF State College Foundation for nursing scholarships is evidence to this fact.”
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Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of Northwest Florida State College, was in attendance for the check presentation and also gave an update on the college as a whole.
“You’ve helped a total of 74 students get through the nursing program and enter healthcare to better take care of all us,” said Dr. Stephenson. “I just want to salute you today for that absolutely phenomenal gift over time that you’ve done for us.”
According to Dr. Stephenson, the State of Florida is in a healthcare crisis. He says that by 2030, there will be a shortage of nearly 60,000 nurses in the state.
“It behooves us to ramp up our programming,” continued Stephenson.
Here’s how the money will be used:
- $50,000 endowment for a teaching chair position in college’s nursing program.
- $25,000 Kay Stokes Scholarship Endowment for nursing students.
- $25,000 in additional scholarships.
