OCNews

Many things have changed since Delphine Stone went to nursing school more than 60 years ago, but she’s sure one element still holds true: the positive role education plays in one’s life.

In honour of the value of education, Stone is donating $50,000 to the Our Students, Your Health campaign for a new Health Sciences Centre on the Kelowna campus.

“Education really changed my life,” recalls Stone, who was the youngest of 11 children and grew up on a farm near Battleford, Saskatchewan.

Stone remembers receiving a $100 award from the Hospital Auxiliary that paid for her registration to nursing school. Without that support, she wouldn’t have been able to pursue nursing, a vocation she thoroughly enjoyed and dedicated herself to for 30 years.

Stone’s gift will support the Medical Resources room in the Health Sciences Centre and honour her brother Constantin Greenwald who also strongly believed in the
positive benefits of education.

“It’s very important for students to have a modern facility with the right equipment to prepare them for their careers,” she adds, recalling her nursing education as taking place in a one-room classroom.

“There is more of a need than ever for well trained staff in our hospitals. It’s just so important to have good health care.”

Katelyn McGillivray is a first year student in the College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and is looking forward to face-to-face learning in the new Centre this Fall.

“It’s an amazing building, and I like that all of the nursing and other health care students will be in one Centre,” says McGillivray.

She adds hearing a former nurse is donating to future nurses is inspiring.

“To know that there is someone who has been through their career and wanting to give back, I really appreciate that,” says McGillivray. “I’ve met so many nurses who understand the importance of mentoring and this gift is like another form of mentorship in that it supports our learning.”

In addition to this gift, Stone gives annually to a student award at the College.

“This gift recognizes education as a transformative tool that changes an individual and their life trajectory, and we’re so honoured Delphine is investing in health care students who will go on to impact so many people in our community,” says Helen Jackman, Okanagan College Foundation Executive Director.

Okanagan College’s new Health Sciences Centre will educate eight front-line health care positions ranging from Practical Nurses to Health Care Assistants.

The Okanagan College Foundation has raised $3.5 million towards its $5-million fundraising goal and is calling on a different kind of hero for health care to ensure students have access to the very best facilities and equipment when they return to face-to-face learning in this much needed new Centre in the Fall.

To learn more or to donate, visit OurStudentsYourHealth.ca.