Gwinnett Technical College

Clarke Family Nursing Scholarship Endowment Established at Gwinnett Tech

Four GTC Registered Nursing Students Receive Fund's First Scholarships

The family of Gwinnett-native Ione Huff Clarke has established the Clarke Family Nursing Scholarship Endowment at Gwinnett Technical College, donating over $450,000 to create a fund that will award multiple scholarships each year. Earlier this month, four Gwinnett Tech nursing students were honored as the fund's charter scholarship recipients.

The endowment is funded by the estate of Elmer and Ione Clarke through their sons, Jim, Gary and David. The fund provides scholarships to deserving first- and second-year nursing students at GTC who have also distinguished themselves academically.

"We are so honored to have been selected by the Clarkes to help carry on their family's legacy and commitment to healthcare and healing. Jim, Gary and David Clarke are continuing the work their parents started in such a meaningful way – by creating a legacy that will benefit GTC students and Gwinnett residents for generations to come," said Sharon Bartels, president, Gwinnett Technical College.

Born in Duluth, Ione Clarke was a devoted nurse for 40 years. She was a graduate of West Georgia College and the Macon School of Nursing, eventually working in pediatric, surgery and emergency departments.

"We selected Gwinnett Technical College as the recipient of the donation because of their new nursing program. Our father was a hospital administrator and our mother was a registered nurse. Our family also has a strong association with Gwinnett County, dating back to the 1800s," explained the Clarke sons.

Receiving the first four scholarships from the Clarke Family Nursing Scholarship Endowment are:

Agatha Covalschi, $1,250, of Lawrenceville, is a second-year nursing student determined to achieve her dream of becoming a registered nurse. Her goal is to become a surgical or labor and delivery nurse.

Kimberly Cummings, $1,250, of Bethlehem, is a second-year nursing student who chose the field of nursing to have a meaningful career where she can make a difference. She plans to become an oncology nurse, honoring her mother whom she lost to breast cancer and her sister, who is a breast cancer survivor.

Jennifer Dent, $2,500, of Lawrenceville, is a first-year nursing student whose pursuit of a nursing career began as a result of a personal loss. That experience instilled a passion to treat patients and their loved ones with respect, empathy and tenderness.

Briauna Howard, $2,500, of Lawrenceville, is a first-year nursing student whose mother was a nurse, and became passionate about nursing from the experience of a close family member's illness. Briauna strives to become a nurse who could provide care, concern and hope.

Gwinnett Tech offers an associate degree of nursing, launched in 2009. The college graduated its first class of 31 registered nursing candidates in June 2011. Gwinnett Tech's new Life Sciences Center has enabled the college to expand the nursing program, which accepted 60 students this fall. In all, Gwinnett Tech offers more than a dozen health science programs that lead to careers in healthcare and life sciences.

GTC also offers almost 50 other degree, diploma and certificate options that can be completed in two years or less. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580.

Donations to The Gwinnett Tech Foundation may be made online at www.GwinnettTech.edu/Foundation or by calling 678-226-6363.

Get the latest news about Gwinnett Tech: http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/news.

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About Gwinnett Tech
Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgia's largest technical colleges, is committed to delivering relevant knowledge to meet the workforce training needs of its community. The college offers more than 50 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs and hundreds of seminars, workshops and courses providing specialized training. GTC is Gwinnett County's largest provider of corporate training and now serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097,404-679-4500, www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Gwinnett Technical College. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.

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