President Tom Courtway with Nabholz Corporation representatives Bill Hannah, chairman of the board, Andrea Woods, executive vice president and corporate counsel and Charles Nabholz, chairman emeritus.
The University of Central Arkansas announced a $500,000 gift from Nabholz Charitable Foundation during a special presentation.
“The Nabholz Charitable Foundation is honored today to make a commitment to this institution. This is a way for Nabholz to give back to UCA for the outstanding impact the university has made in our community for educating young men and women in the healthcare field,” said Charles Nabholz, chairman emeritus of Nabholz Corporation. “It’s our charitable foundation’s pleasure to make a pledge of $500,000 for this institution.”
The funds will be used to renovate laboratories and purchase computers and equipment to establish a simulation center in the Doyne Health Sciences Building. Prior to the presentation, the UCA Board of Trustees approved the naming of the lab as the “Nabholz Center for Healthcare Simulation.”
“If you drill down into the bedrock of Conway and Faulkner County, you find Nabholz,” said President Tom Courtway. “They have a great commitment not only to this community but to institutions of higher education with their integrity, their support and their character.”
UCA nursing students will use the simulation lab, but other students in the college such as occupational therapy, psychology and physical therapy students would also utilize the simulation center.
“That simulation provides another level of education that will enhance the clinical experiences as our students go out,” said Jimmy Ishee, dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. “We are very grateful and appreciate this gift as our first step toward a greater enhancement in simulation at UCA.”
Since its establishment in 1967, the UCA Department of Nursing has played a leadership role in nursing education. Three programs are offered, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Masters of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. Consistently responding to the needs of students, changes in health care and education standards, UCA’s nursing degree programs ensure that students are prepared for a quickly evolving healthcare environment.
