Scholarships open doors for 5 HCC students to attend St. Thomas' School of Nursing
Harriet and Joe Foster donate $260,000
HOUSTON, TX [June 21, 2011] –Harriet and Joe Foster are providing
educational support through the Houston Community College/University of
St. Thomas Foster Scholars Program. The gift, in excess of $260,000,
will provide full-tuition scholarships for five HCC students who
transfer to the University of St. Thomas to complete their undergraduate
degree in the nursing program within two years.
Because of the cost of higher education, obtaining additional support
for low-income students is critical. Funding constraints, time
limitations and lack of resources are all potential barriers to a
transfer student's participation and completion. Low-income students who
must work during their academic careers are less likely to complete
their studies. Many face not only financial challenges, but also those
posed by families who do not understand the impact of education on an
individual's life-time earnings. The HCC/UST Foster Scholars Program
will provide for five HCC students who are majoring in nursing to
transfer to the University of St. Thomas while giving them the support
they need to devote their energies and time to their education.
UST and HCC have enjoyed several successful collaborations, including
the 2008 – 2010 College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) grant
funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This grant provided funding
for the renovation of HCC Central Campus STEM (science, technology,
engineering, mathematics) labs as well as funding for students from both
institutions to work on collaborative undergraduate research programs.
Both institutions receive funding from the National Science Foundation
for STEM scholarships, and a partnership has been created to recruit
those scholarship recipients from HCC for the UST program in order to
provide a seamless transition to baccalaureate-level studies. The
HCC/UST Scholars Program will enhance future collaborations between the
two institutions.
The University of St. Thomas is in the final stages of reopening its
School of Nursing to address the growing shortage of nurses across the
nation. The university will offer a bachelor’s of science in nursing and
enroll the first class of students by 2012. The scholarships provided by
the Fosters will enable HCC students to pursue their educational goals
and help Texas meet the critical demand for nurses.
Harriet and Joe Foster have a long history of making thoughtful
contributions to education in Houston. The Fosters actively support the
community college model and have provided scholarship opportunities for
students who attend Houston Community College. Harriet Foster has been a
member of the HCC Foundation Board since 2001. The scholarships funded
by Harriet and Joe Foster will provide a lasting impact on the
recipients’ lives and their future careers.
About HCC
HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission,
community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce
training and lifelong learning opportunities for 75,000 students each
semester. HCC is composed of six colleges that serve the greater Houston
area’s diverse communities by preparing individuals to live and work in
today’s increasingly international and technological society. To learn
more go to hccs.edu.
