Kimberly Lannan Toothman Endowed Nursing Scholarship established at Fairmont State University
The scholarship has been established by university alumna Kimberly Toothman and her husband, Don, to help nursing students follow their passion.
Fairmont State University is now home to the Kimberly Lannan Toothman Endowed Nursing Scholarship thanks to alumna Kimberly Toothman, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse, and her husband, Don. The scholarship has been established to assist nursing students to pursue their education.
According to an article on Fairmont State University’s website, university president Mike Davis was quoted as saying of the new scholarship endowment, “We are deeply grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Toothman for their extraordinary generosity. Their gift will help prepare skilled, compassionate nurses who are essential to the health and well-being of our communities. The impact of this scholarship will extend far beyond our campus, strengthening healthcare in West Virginia and wherever our graduates serve.”
The Kimberly Lannan Toothman Endowed Nursing Scholarship will support generations of nursing students with financial awards. Kim views her career as a NICU nurse as more than a job, and she wants to support other nurses to pursue their passion for helping patients.
Kim said, “I’m very blessed to have worked as a nurse. By creating the scholarship, my hope is to give opportunities to others so that they may have similar life experiences. Though grades are very important, they are not the sole determinant of the type of nurse you will be. Compassion and enthusiasm are not graded. Skills will improve with practice as long as there is a will to be an excellent nurse. Don’t give up – always move forward.”
Both Kim and Don grew up in West Virginia and even though they have since moved out of state, they remain connected to West Virginia and hope that their scholarship will assist passionate nurses in completing their education and hopefully remaining within the state to provide care to its residents.
Kim has a personal connection to the work that she does that goes beyond her career. Kim and Don’s daughter, Taylor, was born prematurely at 27 weeks, and spent time in the same NICU that Kim works in. Taylor received the care she needed to thrive, and now she works as a dentist and orthodontist.
For more information about Fairmont State University, visit the school’s website.