MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The graduating nursing class of 2024 at Marion Technical College didn’t just receive their diplomas in December; they also left a lasting legacy of support. The class collectively established a $500 scholarship aimed at helping a second-year student in the Registered Nurse program facing financial hardship complete their education.
“We are really excited about this,” said Michelle Little, the nursing class president. “Half of us are older than 27 and many of us have kids. We know what it means to go back to school—how hard it is to finance school and take time off work. Some of our classmates worked night shift then came to class. We want to make it easier for someone else in that situation.”
Little added, “Nursing school changed our lives. If we can give that opportunity to someone else, we want to do it.”
The class worked together on various fundraisers leading up to their pinning ceremony to fund the scholarship.
Cora Glosser, the class historian, noted the shared experience of balancing work and the demanding nursing program. “We had the idea for a scholarship for a while. We understand the struggle of how to take the nursing program and work part-time. I understand the struggle of, ‘How am I going to pay for this.’”
“We fundraised really hard to get enough to make the donation,” Little said. “We wanted to pay it forward. The best part is the current graduating class has continued with this tradition and donated to the scholarship fund as well.”
Other officers who played a role in the initiative included Vice President Alani Perez, Treasurer Jordan Howell, and Secretary Michelle Jordan.
“The scholarship was a class effort. We were a very tight-knit group. We are so proud of each other. Nursing school is very demanding, and all our classmates worked exceptionally hard,” Little said.
Andy Harper, the immediate past president of the Marion Tech Foundation Board of Directors, which oversees scholarships, praised the class’s generosity. “It’s a vote of confidence that someone else recognizes your talent and potential and invests in you with a scholarship. It’s wonderful to see students and graduates giving back as other alumni and retirees have done.”
Dr. Amy Adams, executive vice president at Marion Tech, expressed hope for the future. “We are hoping to create an alumni nursing scholarship and inspire other classes to do the same.”
Little, a mother of five with a bachelor’s degree in music, found her interest in medicine sparked by a family member’s rare disorder. Glosser’s passion for healthcare grew after witnessing her grandmother’s hospital stays. Both Little and Glosser secured jobs with OhioHealth prior to graduation, a common outcome for their classmates.
Glosser highlighted the value of Marion Tech’s resources, including the Anatomy and Physiology Lab where students learn on cadavers, and the supportive faculty. “All of the teachers are so kind and understanding. The small community at Marion Tech makes it so much easier to get a degree,” Glosser said.
Marion Tech President Dr. Ryan McCall acknowledged the rigor of the nursing program, stating, “Nursing is hard. We want everything outside of the classroom to be easy.”
Little emphasized the quality of education she received. “Community college is an underrecognized source for quality education. Marion Tech really prepared me,” she said.
The nursing scholarship will be awarded to a student this fall. Students can apply for Marion Tech scholarships now through May 1 at mtc.edu.
To learn more about supporting Marion Tech students, including donating to the new RN scholarship, contact Mike Stuckey at (740) 386-4171 or stuckeym@mtc.edu.