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Co-Lin Foundation Receives Grant for Nursing Students
WESSON – The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation is the recipient of a $252,000 Hardy Wilson/Copiah County Medical Center Partner for Education Grant to be used for students in the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program at the college’s Wesson Campus and Simpson County Center.
Hardy Wilson received partial funding for a new hospital project through the New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) program from the Urban Research Park subsidiary CDE XXVI, LLC. These funds are overseen by the Copiah County Public Benefit Corporation (CCPBC) board of directors, a related entity to the hospital formed to support the hospital and its community service efforts. One of the requirements of the NMTC and Urban Research Park is to award a charitable organization with a donation to provide career pathways for low-income community residents to obtain living wage jobs within fields of healthcare, science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM), STEM-focused youth development programs, or the expansion of health services to needy populations. The Co-Lin Foundation was nominated, and after a detailed application process, was awarded the full grant of $252,000.00.
The funds will be dispersed to LPN students over a three-year period. Students in the program will be eligible to receive funds from the grant to apply towards tuition, books, supplies, and living expenses.
“We are very pleased to be a recipient of this grant and we believe it will have a positive impact on our students,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Ronnie Nettles. “It also has the potential to significantly improve completion rates of our practical nursing students and in turn, the health care in this region.”
“Co-Lin provides wrap-around support services for our students to assist in reaching their education and career goals,” said Co-Lin Dean of Career, Technical and Workforce Education Jackie Martin. “These funds will directly assist with student retention in our practical nursing program by breaking down barriers that hinder student success and will produce an outcome to meet the workforce needs of our community in health care services.”
The grant is one of the largest the Co-Lin Foundation has ever received that is designated specifically for student scholarships. Currently, the Foundation manages assets of more than $8 million and awards approximately $200,000 in scholarships to more than 150 students annually.
“This is yet another example of how community partnerships can directly benefit our students,” said Executive Director of the Co-Lin Foundation D.J. Preiss. “This grant is a transformative gift for the students in this program, many of whom, due to stringent program requirements, are unable to have outside employment.”
Ben Lott, Hardy Wilson Memorial Hospital chief executive officer and a registered nurse himself, is pleased with the hospital’s role in providing support to Co-Lin nursing students. “I am happy that we were able to award this contribution and help provide career pathways within our own community,” said Lott. “We are committed to service and transforming the health of our citizens. Part of that service is investing in our future caregivers.”
