Written by Joyce Kennedy, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations, Concordia College

Dec. 31, 2014: Concordia College announced receiving a $150,000 grant from The Hearst Foundation, Inc. The money will be used to purchase new equipment and software for The Patricia Nelson Nursing Learning Resource Center, the cornerstone of Concordia's top-ranked nursing program.

The center, a hands-on simulated training laboratory, provides students the opportunity to learn vital nursing procedures and clinical decision making by working with faculty on computerized mannequins.

"We are impressed with how Concordia College's nursing program has grown to meet students' educational and professional goals," said Alison Yu, program officer of the Hearst Foundations, who visited the campus. "Concordia is training the next generation of nurses for the region and helping to meet the health care needs of the state."

This is the third grant The Hearst Foundation has awarded to Concordia. In 1994, a $100,000 grant established the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund, providing significant scholarship support for Concordia's honor students. In 2001, a second grant for $100,000 was awarded to enable the college to increase the endowment fund and the number of honors students, now referred to as Concordia Fellows.

"We are honored to be recognized once again with the generosity of The Hearst Foundation," said Dr. Viji George, president of Concordia College. "It is a testament to the reputation and success of our nursing program and demonstrates the strength of our 20-year relationship with The Hearst Foundation."

Since the launch of the post-baccalaureate nursing degree program in 2008, Concordia has expanded its offerings to include a traditional undergraduate and an RN to BS degree completion program. Last year the program's graduation rate exceeded 92%, well above the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education's (CCNE) national benchmark of 70%. Concordia nursing graduates' first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) (89%) is well above the New York State (78%) and National (83%) averages.

Pictured here: Concordia nursing students working on computerized mannequins.

Photo courtesy Joyce Kennedy, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations, Concordia College