The gift is part of continued renovation to the building that includes classroom, simulation lab and student lounge upgrades that make the School of Nursing a competitive destination for students.

The School of Nursing provides students with a nursing education experience while attracting and retaining top nursing faculty to guide students through today’s health care challenges. Great cities have great medical complexes, and this project will be a catalyst for the school to create healthier communities.

“We are so thankful to the Gheens Foundation for their investment in our students, programs and facilities,” said UofL Interim President Lori Gonzalez. “Donors like the Gheens Foundation make it possible for the University of Louisville to better prepare our students for promising futures.”

Ellen Tinker, a third-year nursing student has experienced first-hand the impact of donors like the Gheens Foundation.

“We will be learning, laughing and crying in these spaces,” said Tinker. “As a Cardinal Nurse, I am very grateful for the gifts they contribute to the nest that we have here in the School of Nursing. One of the most important parts of nursing school is the togetherness and collaboration we all get to feel in these newly renovated spaces.”

After donating $2 million to the university’s strategic plan in 2019, the Gheens Foundation has proven to be an important part of the university and students’ success. The donation was used for many campus improvements, including campus safety and security, employee onboarding, and tools for student recruitment and retention.

Established in 1957 by philanthropists and entrepreneurs C. Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens, the Gheens Foundation has provided more than $130 million in grants to improve the quality of life for the residents of Metropolitan Louisville, particularly in the areas of education and human services.

“The very existence of The Gheens Foundation is a testament to the legacy of love and generosity of its founders, Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens, for the citizens and the institutions of this community,” said Barry G. Allen, president and treasurer of the Gheens Foundation. “I am confident they would be most pleased with the trustees’ decision to make this grant for the benefit of the vital mission of the School of Nursing, especially given the urgency and necessity to attract, recruit and educate the next generations of nurses.”

The latest donation from the Gheens Foundation adds to the $2.5 million already invested by various donors toward the School of Nursing improvement project.

State boards of nursing administer the standardized exam to determine whether a prelicensure nursing school graduate is prepared for entry-level practice as a registered nurse. The pass rate includes all graduates who took the NCLEX for the first time in 2016.

“We are thrilled that our program has achieved a perfect pass rate for 2016,” said Amy Higdon, MSN, RN, director of the UofL School of Nursing Owensboro Extension and assistant professor. “This is a huge accomplishment and would not have been possible without the hard work and determination from our students. Thank you to the dedicated faculty and staff who have worked endlessly to support our students and the program.”

The pass rates for UofL’s School of Nursing programs in Louisville and Owensboro are above the national average of 87.8 percent, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

“We have strong programs with faculty and students who work together to succeed,” said Ruth Staten, PhD, APRN-CS-NP, UofL School of Nursing associate dean for undergraduate programs and associate professor. “The NCLEX pass rates are just one outcome that demonstrates the excellence that defines our BSN traditional programs. We are very proud of the faculty, staff, students and graduates that contribute to the well-being of the community.”