LAKE CITY, Fla. (WCJB) – Florida Gateway College and the Lake Shore Hospital Authority have secured a combined $5 million through the Florida Line Grant and matching funds to create the new LSHA Promise Program supporting nursing students.
The investment comes as Florida faces a heightened shortage of nurses statewide. The program is designed to make nursing education more accessible in Columbia County, a rural area where students often lack resources to pursue healthcare careers.
For nursing student Kayla Gener, the program could open doors that once felt out of reach.
“I think that a lot of students who want to go to nursing school, or who are interested in pursuing this profession, they lack resources. This is also considered to be one of those rural areas, so it would make it a lot more accessible for people to pursue their dreams,” Gener said.
Students say nursing school requires expensive textbooks, equipment and hands-on training. The financial support could make a real difference in their ability to succeed and stay focused on learning.
College leaders say the program is designed not only to help students get through school but also to build a stronger local healthcare workforce by keeping graduates in the community.
For Gener, that support means dreaming bigger. She plans to become a nurse practitioner and says the financial assistance could help her pursue advanced education without stress about costs.
“Support like this will for 1 it will bring on more additional nurses but it will also give me an opportunity to further my education which I plan to do and not have to stress about the financial component of that so I plan to become a nurse practitioner one day and that’s lots of school which equals lots of money so again, very helpful resource,” she said.
The LSHA Promise Program includes scholarships, equipment and long-term investment in students with hopes of supporting future generations of nurses in Columbia County.
“Thank you for looking at the bigger picture, thank you for investing in our future as future healthcare workers, we appreciate it very much,” Gener said.
The initial $2.5 million in LINE (Linking Industry to Nursing Education) funds will be immediately put toward scholarships, instructional equipment, and resources that directly impact FGC nursing students.
With the additional $2.5 million from LSHA, the Foundation for Florida Gateway College will establish a scholarship endowment for Columbia County students pursuing an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ASDN) from FGC.
The endowment is expected to be sustained for a minimum of 25 years with hopes to be permanently endowed, supporting eligible students and local healthcare resources for generations to come
