News Release
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January 19, 2006
Norco Donation Funds Three New Boise State Nursing
Scholarships
To assist nursing students with the rising cost of higher education and thus
help ease the looming nursing shortage, Norco chairman and CEO Jim Kissler
has announced three new nursing scholarships for Boise State University. The
$15,000 scholarships will be funded by the Kissler Family Foundation; two
are aimed at baccalaureate students and one is earmarked for an anticipated
master’s program. If approved by the State Board of Education, that program
will begin accepting students later this year.
Under a generous matching fund program established by the Boise Industrial
Foundation in 2003, each of Kissler’s three $10,000 donations received
$5,000 in matching funds. The Kissler Family Foundation was set up to allow
profits from Boise-based Norco to be used to benefit the community. Founded
in 1968 by Larry Kissler, Norco includes three divisions: welding, safety
and home care medical supplies.
“Because we’re in the medical supply business, we’re as aware as anyone of
the pending nursing shortage and the need for qualified nurses in health
care,” Jim Kissler said. “This donation allows us to continue to support
Boise State while also supporting the need for nurses in the state of
Idaho.”
As the baby boom population ages, demand for skilled nurses will increase
dramatically. By the year 2020, demand for nurses nationwide is expected to
outpace supply by 800,000. Idaho currently ranks 49th in the nation for
registered nurses per capita; without a plan to educate more nurses, the
state faces a major crisis by 2020. Gifts such as the Kissler Family
Foundation scholarships allow Boise State to more quickly educate student
nurses who might otherwise have to drop out of the program or take longer to
complete their degree due to financial concerns.
“The generosity of the Kisslers and Norco is paramount to ensuring nursing
care for Idahoans in the future. With projections that the number of
Idahoans over age 65 will double (to 360,000) by 2030, and the average age
of a registered nurse in Idaho currently at 46, supporting nursing education
and increasing the number of nursing students is a priority for Boise
State,” said Pam Springer, chair of Boise State’s nursing department.
“Master’s prepared nurses are needed to provide valuable nursing research,
leadership and clinical practice and education of future nurses. This
scholarship is the first to support the proposed master’s program. The
proposed master’s is population focused and, if approved, will directly
address the unmet health care needs of people in our state.”
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Contact: Jennifer Neil, University Advancement, (208) 426-2927,
jenniferneil@boisestate.edu
Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208)
426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu
Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in
Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190
undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within
eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise
State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and
public service.
The Office of Communications and Marketing
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Boise State University
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Boise Idaho 83725-1030
208-426-1577
(fax)208-426-4001
email communications@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007