New Nursing scholarship fund created at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College thanks to donation

Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College has received a generous donation of $30,000 from Nellie Heaverner Nelson in memory of her husband, Albert Nelson, to create the The Albert & Nellie Heavener Nelson scholarship fund.

According to an article on Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s website, Monica Wilson, who is the Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Services, said, “Mrs. Nellie Heavener Nelson’s generous donations, past and present, to the college is a testament to the impact that dedicated individuals can have on our institution, our students, and the communities we serve.”

Part of the donation will go toward a new plaque and the renaming of the Eastern Nursing Lab to the Albert & Nellie Heavener Nelson Nursing Lab. When donors make significant donations, it comes along with the right to rename a room or building on Eastern’s campus, something the Eastern Foundation hopes will inspire further donations from other individuals and adequately displays gratitude to those who donate.

The rest of the money donated by Ms. Nelson will go toward funding student scholarships. The new Albert & Nellie Heavener Nelson scholarship fund is for Nursing program students. It will award $1,000 to five Nursing students, to be presented by Nellie Heavener Nelson’s brother, Estil Heavener. Other student scholarships will be funded with the remaining money.

Dr. Tom Striplin, who is Eastern’s president, expressed his gratitude to the Nelsons for the impact their donation will have on students, saying, “It is significant contributions such as this that help change and transform lives for students and their families seeking to improve their life circumstances through higher education.”

Thanks to a Department of Education Award matching program called Title III Award, there will be a $1 to $1 match of the funds provided by Ms. Nelson.

“It was a pleasure to meet with Mrs. Nellie Heavener Nelson in person and learn about her vision for the success of the Eastern nursing program and establish a permanent scholarship in honor of her and her late husband Albert Nelson,” said Jennifer Rexroad, who serves as Advancement Specialist at Eastern.

For more information about Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.