News Release for Immediate Release
BREMERTON, Wash. – Tim and Bev Ryan, Founder of Tim Ryan Construction Inc., continue to transform lives in Kitsap County through their enduring support of Olympic College. The college recently received a $1 million gift from the family that will significantly enhance healthcare education in the region for years to come.
The funds will be used to purchase cutting-edge equipment and upgrade existing facilities across all healthcare programs, including the expansion project and remodel at the Poulsbo Campus. In recognition of their generosity, the college will dedicate the sonography lab in their name as the Tim Ryan Family Diagnostic Medical Sonography Lab.
Mr. Ryan, whose mother was a nurse, has long been a champion of healthcare education in the region.
“There is a clear and urgent need for skilled healthcare workers in our community, and I am proud to support these efforts at Olympic College,” he said. “My hope is that this gift inspires the generosity of others, helping to build a healthier, stronger Kitsap.”
In 2024, Olympic College announced an ambitious plan to expand access to healthcare programs at its Bremerton and Poulsbo campuses. Phase 1 called for the creation of five new academic programs and a remodel of the Poulsbo Campus to create space for Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technologist and Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs. Under Phase 1, the college also launched a Phlebotomy program and a pathway for Navy Corpsmen and Air Force Medics to become Practical Nurses – the first program of its kind in Washington state to award college credit for prior military experience.
Olympic College will celebrate completion of Phase 1 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Poulsbo Campus in October.
“The community support for this project has been phenomenal,” said Interim Olympic College President Joan Hanten. “This donation is an example of what can be accomplished when private industry and public service work together to meet community needs. We are forever grateful to the Ryan family for their generosity.”
Other project partners include the Kitsap County Commissioners, which contributed $6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, which provided $2.5 million. The state legislature also allocated $100,000 in annual funding to support faculty salaries for healthcare programs.
With Phase 1 nearing completion, Olympic College is building momentum for Phase 2 of the expansion, which would pave the way for program proposals in Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic and Respiratory Therapy. These programs would be housed in an 80,000-square-foot multi-use facility at the Poulsbo Campus.
The Ryan family has a long history of philanthropy in Kitsap County and at Olympic College. In 2015, they donated $100,000 to Olympic College Foundation to establish an annual scholarship for nursing students. From 2004 to 2006, the Tim Ryan family played a pivotal role in modernizing our nursing program, funding the purchase of cutting-edge hospital beds that mirror those used in healthcare facilities. They also funded ‘Metiman,’ the program’s first robotic patient simulator to enhance clinical training.
Olympic College Dean of Nursing & Allied Health Dr. Alecia Nye was the first faculty member to use the Metiman simulator when it was unveiled in 2006.
"This simulator has played a vital role in educating and shaping the next generation of nurses in our community," Nye said. "The continued support of our community ensures that Olympic College students have access to the most advanced equipment and learning resources."
“The Ryan family’s generosity reflects the profound impact one family can make in the lives of students in our region,” said OC Foundation Executive Director Kimberly Cizek Allen. ”Gifts like this change lives by removing barriers for students while strengthening the programs that prepare them for success. We are deeply honored to accept this gift and to name the sonography lab in recognition of the Tim Ryan Family’s lasting legacy.”
Visit the Olympic College Foundation website to learn more about how donors are transforming the lives of Olympic College students.
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