Noack family gifts $20,000 for Blinn scholarship

September 19, 2013

Ruth Noack recently graduated from College's Licensed Vocational Nursing program

Less than a month after graduating from one of the most rigorous programs Blinn College offers, Ruth Noack is giving back to those who will follow in her footsteps.

The Blinn College Foundation recently accepted a $20,000 gift from Ruth Noack and her husband Steven to establish an endowed scholarship for students enrolled in Blinn's Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) program. The scholarship will be awarded to an LVN student on the College's Brenham campus during the Spring/Summer semester who has demonstrated the ability, character and integrity necessary for a successful career in the nursing field.

Ruth Noack was recently one of 19 new nurses welcomed into the profession during the program's 51st annual pinning ceremony at the Dr. W.W. O'Donnell Performing Arts Center in August. She recently passed the National Council Licensing Examination using the knowledge and skills she learned from Blinn's state-recognized LVN program.

"Ruth knows first-hand the challenges that our LVN students face in achieving their dreams, and her genuine love for the nursing profession has been inspirational to her fellow students and to me," said Joe Al Picone, Blinn Foundation Board President. "I would like to thank Ruth and Steven for this endowed scholarship, which will give future nursing students the assistance they need to further their own goals and will strengthen our healthcare workforce for years to come."

Blinn's vocational nursing program consists of classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences, some of which begin at 6:30 a.m. Hospitals and other health care facilities throughout the Brenham and La Grange communities are utilized for clinical rotations. Students are expected to spend 35-40 hours each week in scheduled, attendance-mandatory activities.

The program's first semester includes 10 courses, and students must pass all their classes to advance to the next semester. To pass, students must score at least a 75 percent, and the program also features a strict attendance policy.

The Foundation supports programs and activities that enhance the quality of education for Blinn College students and expand the educational opportunities for the entire community. While raising funds is an important function, the Foundation also seeks to heighten community awareness of the mission and accomplishments of the College and to promote excellence in education.

For more information on the Foundation and its mission, call 979-830-4107. A complete list of endowed scholarships available to Blinn students can be found at: www.blinn.edu/CatalogPDF/Scholarships.pdf.

PHOTO - Blinn College Foundation Board President Joe Al Picone (right) recently presented Steven and Ruth Noack with a plaque commemorating their establishment of a new endowed scholarship benefitting a Licensed Vocational Nursing student on the College's Brenham campus.

Source: Blinn