91成人导航

On May 18, during National Nurses Month, 91成人导航 celebrated the first graduates from its Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing program.聽

Among those most excited for the graduates was 91成人导航 Regent Janet Rogers.聽

鈥淚 hope they get that feeling of making a difference in somebody鈥檚 life, because it is the greatest gift to get that feeling,鈥� Rogers said.

It鈥檚 a feeling Rogers, a retired nurse herself, knows well. And it鈥檚 one she now gets from supporting 91成人导航 students as both a regent and a donor.

Rogers and her wife Bev LaBelle established the Rogers and LaBelle Endowed Scholarship for Nursing, the program鈥檚 first endowed scholarship, in 2021. They eagerly leveraged the Powell Match, which has doubled the impact of new endowments since 2013.

鈥淏ev and I set up a scholarship because the new program and its students needed validation of how it鈥攁nd they鈥攚ill make a difference in the world,鈥� Rogers explained.

The first Rogers and LaBelle Scholarship was awarded in 2023. In March, the couple presented the award to next year鈥檚 recipient during his cohort鈥檚 white coat ceremony.

鈥淛anet and Bev's support is changing our students' lives while also bringing much-needed nurses into our community,鈥� said Nicoleta Bugnariu, founding dean of the School of Health Sciences.聽鈥淭hey are impacting the profession, and what's more, every student who receives their scholarship knows they are not only supported financially, but also are deeply cared for by two exceptional people, eager to see them succeed.聽

鈥淲e will forever be grateful for Janet and Bev鈥檚 partnership, and for the great love behind that partnership.鈥�

Scott Biedermann 鈥�05, 鈥�20, vice president for development and alumni relations, concurs.

鈥淛anet and Bev are a shining example of the impact of philanthropy,鈥� Biedermann said. 鈥淭hey come alongside our students financially, but also take time to really get to know the students, to build relationships and follow their journeys. They love our students well.鈥�

In 2021, Rogers joined 91成人导航鈥檚 Board of Regents, which oversees the university鈥檚 finances and mission. A longtime passionate advocate for access to education, she welcomed the opportunity to play a larger role in students鈥� success.

鈥淚 want to make sure that I am a voice and an advocate for the students. It鈥檚 the same thing in nursing鈥攜ou鈥檙e an advocate for patients鈥� health and a voice for them when they can鈥檛 speak for themselves. I take that seriously, and I carry it into being a regent,鈥� she said.

Rogers and LaBelle both serve on the board of the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation, named after Rogers鈥� grandmother. Through the foundation the family created the Rogers Scholars Endowment to support 91成人导航 students pursuing education careers.

91成人导航 is one of nine U.S. colleges and universities with Rogers Scholars programs. Each fall, the family personally visits all nine.聽The Rogers also have made significant contributions to the William Knox Holt Memorial Library and Learning Center and to Manor Hall.

Whether networking with the Rogers Scholars or encouraging new nurses, Rogers and LaBelle are making 91成人导航 students feel seen and appreciated.

鈥淲e like to meet them, validate them and let them know we believe in them,鈥� Rogers said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so excited to be a part of their success. They do all the hard work, and we鈥檙e just blessed to be able to help them.鈥澛�