FVCC to receive $4 million gift; the largest ever to college
The Western News
Flathead Valley Community College, which has a campus in Libby, has received a gift of $4 million to benefit its nursing program.
The gift, from the Broussard family, is the largest ever given to the college. The funds have been designated to build a Nursing and Health Education Center as a tribute to the late Rebecca Broussard.
The facility will house classes and labs for FVCC nursing programs as well as other allied health programs.
It also will include a student health clinic to provide affordable basic health-care services to FVCC students.
“FVCC touches the lives of so many people in our community in many ways,” said Jerome Broussard, Rebecca’s husband.
“We wanted to recognize Becky’s extraordinary life as a nurse and philanthropist and build a lasting legacy for Becky who deeply cared about nursing and the community.”
“This building will honor Becky for her commitment and dedication to nursing education and the community,” said FVCC President Jane Karas. “The facility will enable FVCC to enhance our nursing education programs and provide our students limitless opportunities. We are sincerely grateful to Jerome and his daughters, Sarah and Rebecca, for their generosity and continued commitment to education and our community.”
The Broussard’s gift will cover the majority of construction expenses for a proposed $5 million building on which the college plans to break ground in the spring of 2012.
The Broussard family challenges the community to join the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation in raising the additional $1 million in construction costs to house FVCC’s growing nursing program and other health programs and a student health clinic.
“My mother was a remarkable woman and would be so pleased if our community came together to support this much needed facility,” said Sarah Broussard.
The college has doubled its practical nursing program and is expecting final approval in July from the Montana Board of Nursing to offer a new associate of science in nursing program to prepare students to become registered nurses. Other programs to be housed in the facility will include certified nurse’s aide courses, medical assistant program, paramedicine program and the new emergency management and physical therapy programs as well as the student health clinic.