BREMERTON - Olympic College has received a $100,000 donation from Tim and Bev Ryan, owners of Tim Ryan Construction Inc., to fund scholarships for nursing students.
The donation provides financial support for students that are currently enrolled in the College’s nursing programs. Students will be eligible for scholarships of $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000 each year for the next 10 years.
Mr. Ryan, whose mom was a nurse, has admired this profession and the broad impact it has for as long as he can remember.
"Nurses are one of the first people to care for us when we are born and one of the last to care for us before we die," he says. "They give you your first shot, fix your broken leg and care for you throughout your life. With so many needs in this world, we felt as a family that this was important because nursing impacts us all."
Mr. Ryan started his company in 1957 in Kirkland, WA, before relocating to Kingston in 1972. The company has left its mark on this region with an array of highly-visible commercial construction projects completed throughout Kitsap County.
Tim Ryan Construction is also known for its extensive community support, providing funding and sponsorship for more than 30 organizations in the greater Kitsap County region.
"We could not be happier to be among the many organizations that the Ryan family has supported through the years," Olympic College President Dr. David Mitchell said. "These scholarships will have a lasting impact for our nursing students, many of whom are place-bound and would not have access to these programs if they were not available locally."
The inaugural Ryan Family Nursing Scholarship will be awarded in June for the 2016-17 academic year. Donor scholarships are offered through the Olympic College Foundation, which provided more than $370,000 in scholarship support to Olympic College students in 2015.
To find out more about applying for scholarships, visit: http://www.olympic.edu/olympic-college-foundation/available-scholarships
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Olympic College is consistently ranked among the top community colleges in the nation. In 2015, the College was named a top 10 finalists Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s preeminent recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges. Learn more here: Aspen Award.