News Releases
Snoops Nursing Scholarship Exceeds $1M Goal
February 20, 2006
New Fund Established to Support Hiring and Retention of Nursing Faculty
Baltimore, Md. – A scholarship for University of Maryland School of Nursing students, initiated by Maryland Comptroller William Donald Schaefer, has exceeded the $1 million goal set when he endowed the scholarship in 1999 with an initial commitment of $350,000. The scholarship was established in honor of Schaefer's long-time friend and companion Hilda Mae Snoops, who was a nurse. The fund, which provides financial aid based on need and merit, has provided assistance to more than 50 nursing students since its inception. Although the goal for the Snoops Scholarship Fund has been reached, Schaefer's support for the nursing profession will not end.
“During the past six years, I have learned that there are severe shortages in bedside nurses, as well as nursing faculty,” says Schaefer. “Nursing schools throughout Maryland are turning away qualified students because there aren't enough faculty to teach them.”
Determined to help address the nursing faculty shortage, Schaefer is helping the School of Nursing raise $1 million to create the William Donald Schaefer Nurse Faculty Fund. This fund will be used to support the hiring and retention of new and current nursing teachers.
“We truly appreciate Comptroller Schaefer's commitment to nursing,” says Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing. “The Snoops Scholarship provides aspiring nurses throughout Maryland the opportunity to study at our School, and the new Nurse Faculty Fund will help us hire and retain excellent faculty, which will help alleviate the nurse and nursing faculty shortages.”
Anyone wishing to support the Nurse Faculty Fund can mail his or her check to the University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 W. Lombard Street, Suite 729, Baltimore, MD 21201. Make checks payable to: “UMBF, Inc.” Memo: William Donald Schaefer Nurse Faculty Fund. Donations can also be made on-line at www.giving.umaryland.edu. For more information about the William Donald Schaefer Nurse Faculty Fund, call 410-706-8418.