and her scholarship donor, Cathy Boardman.
Donors Making a Difference at CCN
We at the Capstone College of Nursing are proud to work with our generous donors to create new opportunities for our College. Currently, we are in the midst of The Rising Tide Capital Campaign, a University-wide effort to raise a minimum of $1.5 billion in philanthropic support for strategic priorities over a 10-year period. As we continue toward our goals during the Campaign, we are honored to highlight some of our donors’ stories.
Cathy Boardman, a graduate of the Capstone College of Nursing, has been an active member of CCN’s Board of Visitors since 2012. Over the course of those 11 years, Cathy has generously given of her time and talents, serving in a number of volunteer and leadership roles, including two years as BOV Chair. Additionally, Cathy and her husband Mark established the Cathryn Dunkin and Mark S. Boardman Endowed Nursing Scholarship. Below, read more about the Boardmans’ giving journey.
“I am so proud of these young people, and I have been blessed and inspired by my association with them,” said Cathy.
“I was not prepared to be touched so deeply by this relationship, and it is truly humbling and uplifting at the same time.“
Tell us a little bit about your scholarship and what motivated/inspired you to create it.
Mark has a sign in his office that reads: “What can I do today to make Alabama a better place?” In that spirit, we funded scholarships at the Capstone College of Nursing (CCN) and the University of Alabama School of Law. Mark and I believe that the college experience at UA can be transformative, and we together support our respective schools.
How does being involved with and supportive of your Alma Mater bring you joy?
For me, working with fellow alumni, faculty, and friends through the CCN Board of Visitors has been a great opportunity. I have met people with a shared vision of improving health care in our state and specifically of promoting nursing education. It has been exciting and heartwarming to meet CCN alumni from all over the country and to witness the enormous growth of the nursing program. I have also made or rekindled some wonderful friendships.
Likewise, creating the scholarship has brought me more joy than I could have imagined. I have been able to meet some of the scholarship recipients and even attend the pinning ceremony for one. This student checks in with me from time to time and recently told me she was admitted to graduate school!
I am so proud of these young people, and I have been blessed and inspired by my association with them. I was not prepared to be touched so deeply by this relationship, and it is truly humbling and uplifting at the same time.
What do you want to share with others, who may be considering creating a scholarship?
I encourage anyone who has a passion for helping young people achieve their dreams to become a nurse to consider setting up a scholarship or endowment. It is easier than you think, and the rewards will surpass expectations.
For more information or to make a gift, contact CCN Senior Associate Director of Development, Anita Hamlett, at ahamlett@ua.edu or 205-348-9876.
To learn more about The Rising Tide Capital Campaign, visit risingtide.ua.edu.
Read other CCN donor stories here: Suzy McCallum │The Woodard Family │Ed and Cathy Rudisill │Cathy Watson │Richard and Donna Urrutia