Hearn Family Remembers Late Doctor By Gift of 2nd Nursing Scholarship

10/03/2003

There is little doubt George and Alice Hearn were a team. Dr. George Hearn taught anatomy and physiology. Alice Hearn was a young nursing student who had to learn anatomy and physiology because it was "an essential course" for every nurse to learn.

But, the late Dr. Hearn was more than a professor. He pioneered research in the field of intra-cellular exercise physiology at Rutgers and Washington State before finishing his teaching and research career at Ithaca College and moving to the Emerald Coast.

When Alice Hearn, her family, and friends established the Dr. George Hearn Nursing Scholarship in 2001, OWCC had yet to graduate the first student nurse. Now, two years later, 43 registered nurses from OWCC's fledgling program are working in the community.

Her late husband, who she calls a "would-be physician," because of his fascination with anatomy and physiology, would be pleased with the college's results. It's another reason why Mrs. Hearn and her family have donated $10,000 for a second Dr. George Hearn Nursing Scholarship. Joining her in making the gift were her daughter Sarah, a physical therapist, and her husband Vern Walker of Pennsylvania.

"I believe in the nursing program because we desperately need nurses," said Mrs. Hearn, a former registered nurse who "did it all" in a 27-year career that ended as a public health nurse in Pennsylvania. "It's great for OWCC to have begun such a program so the nurses can stay here to work."

OWCC President Dr. Bob Richburg said the Hearn's gift will increase the value of the Dr. George Hearn Nursing Scholarship Endowment and enable the Hearns to award two nursing scholarships.

"Our college is delighted the Hearn family chose to fund second nursing scholarship in Dr. Hearn's memory," said Richburg, noting that the original scholarship supported one of the college's first nursing students, Clarissa Taylor, who graduated this past May.

"With 90 freshman and sophomore students in our nursing program, the Dr. Hearn Nursing Scholarship will help the college meet the demand for financial assistance of one these students to pursue a nursing career," Richburg said.