Community Response to COVID-19 and Health Education Every year, nursing students preparing to graduate from SPSCC take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to earn their nursing license. These graduating nurses join the frontlines at local hospitals and deserve recognition for their courageous career path. The NCLEX costs roughly $200 per student but graduating nursing students did not have to worry about the price in 2020. To honor nurses in the time of COVID-19, local allied health organizations made donations to the SPSCC Foundation to cover the cost of all NCLEX testing fees for the entire graduating class of SPSCC’s 37 nursing students. Providence St. Peter Foundation, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, Panorama, and Capital Medical Center have all made donations to help cover the over $10,000 cost for these tests to support future nurses in this time of unprecedented need. Providence St. Peter Foundation also made a commitment to fund 30 allied health scholarships in the 2020-21 school year as well as provide extra support to the Student Success Fund, which offers year-round assistance for students in financial need. “Seeing these agencies step up to give back while we’re working so hard is encouraging,” said Patrick Santos, a first-year nursing student. “I saw a lot of my classmates struggle this year and Caption this was a reminder of the goodness in our community.” SPSCC students in the allied health field are encouraged to apply for these scholarships and grant funds via the SPSCC Foundation website. Please visit spscc.edu/foundation/scholarships to learn more. ♦
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South Puget Sound Community College Foundation
