The scholarship will benefit students in the Covenant Healthcare College of Medicine at CMU who are committed to serving patients in rural areas in central and northern Michigan, as well as the state’s Upper Peninsula.
Central Michigan University has received a $1 million gift from alumni Tim and Nan Buerger Maczka to support current and future students in the university’s Covenant Healthcare College of Medicine. The scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to medical students, especially those who intend to practice medicine in rural areas, as well as in Central Michigan, Northern Michigan, and the state’s Upper Peninsula.
According to an article on Central Michigan University's website, Nan and Tim discussed their decision to set up this scholarship fund. Nan is quoted as saying, “We grew up in northern Michigan and have family members in health care. We know about the physician shortage and people traveling an hour or more to see doctors, especially specialists. We want to support students who come from and are determined to deliver care in communities where doctors are most desperately needed.”
Tim added of their ability to donate the money, “When we had to start taking minimum required distributions from our IRAs, we decided to set all of it aside for charitable causes. We began to think it was time to be a little bold.”
Tim graduated from Central Michigan University in 1974 with a degree in business. He went on to work in banking for several years before co-founding Team Financial Group in 2001. He still works with the company, and one of his and Nan’s sons, Matt, is the current president and CEO. Nan graduated in 1975 with a degree in home economics. She was an on-staff designer at J. L. Hudson’s for a time before working in landscaping design, art production, and retail.
The family has ties to the healthcare field. Nan’s mother was a registered nurse at a Cheboygan hospital, Nan’s sister is a nurse in Alpena, Nan’s cousin is a nurse practitioner in Texas, Tim’s sister is a social worker in a rural community in Northern Michigan, and Nan and Tim’s daughter, Stephanie, is a pediatrician.
The couple has been funding various initiatives at the university, including sponsoring student entrepreneurs in the annual New Venture Challenge, contributing to the Student Emergency Fund and Student Food Pantry, and supporting the Finish Up Chips Scholarship.
University president Neil MacKinnon said, “Tim and Nan Buerger Maczka are forging the future for CMU students and individuals and families across rural communities. They are among the most dedicated alumni who are creating landmark momentum for Central Michigan University and the state.”
Jennifer Cotter, who serves as the university’s vice president for Advancement, added, “Nan and Tim have enormous hearts; they deeply want to help rural and medically underserved communities. They are leaders, taking action to offset medical school costs for students and driven by compassion for Michigan residents.”
For more information about Central Michigan University, visit the school’s website.