TriCity Rotarians partner on psychiatric nursing bursary

TriCity Rotarians partner on psychiatric nursing bursary The four TriCity Rotary Clubs have teamed up to support students at Douglas College in the psychiatric nursing program. Rotarians are strong supporters of education, hosting exchange students from around the world and sponsoring TriCity residents on work and scholarly development exchanges. As an extension of this work, the four clubs have recently established a bursary at Douglas College for students enrolled in the Psychiatric Nursing degree program. The clubs are the Rotary Club of Coquitlam Sunrise, the Rotary Club of Port Moody, the Rotary Club of Port Coquitlam Centennial and the Rotary Club of Coquitlam. Presidents Tom Albanese, Paul Gill, Patty Thorliefson and Peter Cuthbert met recently to present their donation. "The cheques are in the mail," joked Albanese, as the other presidents signed a ceremonial cheque to present to Hazel Postma, Douglas College associate vice president external relations. Each club has pledged $833.33 a year for three years in order to establish a $10,000 endowment. Douglas College Foundation has agreed to match 50 per cent of the donations. "Our first Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing students will graduate next year," Postma says, "and they will likely all be hired before they graduate. Douglas is the only college in the Lower Mainland offer the psychiatric nursing degree and many of the students find it a struggle financially to complete the four years. The Rotary bursary will make a big difference in the years to come." For information, call Hazel Postma at 605-777-6173, Tom Albanese at 604-949-0038, Paul Gill at 604-941-8346, Patty Thorliefson at 604-944-6000 or Peter Cuthbert at 604-931-2146.