The Reids, UW graduates and long-time UW benefactors, singled out the School of Nursing for this major award as a tribute to the excellent nursing care each of them has experienced. The Robert and Jean Reid Endowed Fund will provide full scholarships for undergraduate and graduate nursing students who otherwise would not be able to afford a nursing education. The gift comes at a critical time, says Dean of Nursing Nancy Fugate Woods. This year, the school increased its undergraduate admissions and expanded its graduate program in response to the local and national nursing shortages. A gift on the scale of the Reids will be truly transformative.
Nurses deal with the human response to illness at every stage of life.
The Reids lived in Bellevue from 1947 to 1988. Both the Reids have required hospitalization in recent years. They understand that without financial assistance, many bright, talented, and personally committed individuals such as those who provided the Reids' care would be unable to pursue their dreams of a career in nursing. Aida Jenkins is typical of the school's current scholarship recipients. Financial support allows me to work just 16 hours a week, which gives me time to focus on my child and on my education.