Ernestine Carter Endowed Nursing Scholarship established at Chattanooga State Community College
The scholarship has been established to honor the legacy of Ernestine Carter, a well-loved hospital nurse, and to support students who wish to become nurses.
Chattanooga State Community College has a new scholarship available for students who are pursuing a nursing education. The Ernestine Carter Endowed Nursing Scholarship has been established in honor of a beloved nurse who served patients within the Chattanooga community. The new scholarship will financially assist students as they complete their nursing education.
According to an article on Chattanooga State Community College’s website, Lindsey O’Hagan, who serves as the college’s Program Director of Nursing, spoke at the event that announced the scholarship establishment. She is quoted as saying to Ernestine’s family, “Your generosity is more than a gift. It is an enduring investment in the future of nursing and in the lives of students who will follow in Ernestine’s footsteps. This scholarship will directly support that continued success, opening doors for students who aspire to serve with the same compassion and courage that defined Mrs. Carter's remarkable career.”
Ernestine, known as Tina, was a passionate and committed nurse throughout her long career. She is remembered for being kind, caring, and loving to her patients and happy to mentor other nurses.
At the event, Cammie Rice, who is an activist and philanthropist as well as a family friend of the Carters, said of Ernestine, “Every night we would talk on the phone, and she would pray at the end of those calls. She told me to always, always wake up with a grateful heart. She was ministering to everybody, including the thousands of hospital patients that she took care of.”
Dr. Martina Harris, who serves as the dean of Nursing and Allied Health, said, “Some of the greatest heroes do not do what they do for the recognition. Tina was known for her kindness, her resilience, and her commitment to caring for others. This scholarship will strengthen the tradition that helps support our students to carry on the values that she championed.”
The nursing program at Chattanooga State Community College graduates more than 10 students each year, and has both high NCLEX pass rates and high job placement rates. The new Ernestine Carter Endowed Nursing Scholarship will help more individuals access a nursing education and continue Carter’s nursing legacy.
For more information about Chattanooga State Community College, visit the school’s website.