News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Addressing the Nursing Shortage: SVCC and VCU Health CMH Join Forces to Support Nursing Scholarships
As the nation faces a critical nursing shortage, Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) Foundation and VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital Foundation are stepping up to help bridge the gap. The two foundations will be hosting a special fundraising event on Saturday, November 2 at The Colonial Theater in South Hill, VA, 7:00PM- 8:30PM . You don’t want to miss a Night of Jazz presented by Minus2. Minus2 is composed of two brothers, Dr. Daryl Minus, SVCC’s Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success and his brother Eric. The brother duo have been making music together for more than 30 years. The Minus brothers have developed an instrumental sound from their early introduction to classical and jazz, blending the effects of gospel and funk into their overall style. The event will raise funds for scholarships that will directly benefit students pursuing nursing degrees.
This initiative comes at a crucial time. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a significant shortage of registered nurses in the coming years, driven by an aging population and increasing healthcare demands. Healthcare entities are in need of a strong and well-supported nursing workforce, making it imperative to invest in nursing education now more than ever.
The scholarship funds, which will be open to eligible students enrolled in the nursing program at SVCC and nurses pursuing degrees at VCU Health CMH, are designed to ease the financial burden for those pursuing this in-demand career. This collaboration between the hospital and the college demonstrates a shared commitment to improving healthcare access and quality for the entire community.
Melissa Arthur, Dean of Nursing Allied Health and Natural Sciences, shares “We are excited to announce our collaboration with VCU Health CMH for a nursing scholarship initiative that directly impacts the future of healthcare. Scholarships play a pivotal role in enabling students to achieve their academic and professional goals, providing critical financial support so they can focus on their education and career aspirations. As we work to address the nursing shortage, these scholarships will help equip the next generation of nurses with the skills needed to meet the growing demands of our healthcare system. This event, featuring a special jazz concert led by Dr. Daryl Minus, our very own Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success, will raise essential funds for nursing scholarships. It promises to be a remarkable evening that not only celebrates music but also supports our students' journeys in advancing their nursing careers.”
Mary Hardin, Chief Nursing Officer, appreciates the partnership between VCU Health CMH and SVCC, “We value our long-term relationship with SVCC where we host many of their nursing students for clinical rotations. The Earn to Learn program is one of the recent accomplishments for SVCC, a grant of more than $350,000 and VCU Health CMH is the partnering clinical site. This opportunity allows nursing students to work during their program to earn class credit and earn relevant experience alongside our VCU Health CMH nurses. This program is one of many collaborations we have been able to do with SVCC through the years in an effort to support future nurses.”
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Tickets are $25.00 each and may be purchased by calling the Colonial’s box office, 434-262-4170, visiting in person, or going to https://colonialcenterva.org. If you are interested in sponsoring the event or VIP tickets, contact Jamie Jones, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, jamie.jones@southside.edu or Mikayla Barnes, Foundation Coordinator, mikayla.barnes@vcuhealth.org The Colonial is located at 220 South Mecklenburg Avenue, South Hill, VA 23970.
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