Campbell Family Gift: Gift Names Nursing Lab For Meagan

03/26/2003

Having already demonstrated their unflagging support for OWCC's new registered nursing program, Wayne and Susan Campbell have taken their generosity to an even higher level with a personal gift to name the Meagan Campbell Nursing Laboratory in memory of their late daughter.

Campbell, the CEO of Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, said he and his wife Susan already have been overwhelmed by the contributions to the Meagan Campbell Scholarship that "we just had to do something ourselves for Meagan and the nursing lab seems like the right place."

"We truly have been touched by the kindness everyone has shown to our family and the many friends and business who have helped make Meagan's Scholarship able to assist more students than we ever thought possible," said Campbell, whose 18-year-old daughter died in an automobile accident on Interstate 10 in September of last year.

While Fort Walton Beach Medical Center has contributed $150,000 to name one nursing lab to be located in the Health Technology Building, Campbell said that after thinking about it during the difficult holidays "it just seemed right to us to have the other lab named for Meagan."

Dr. Bob Richburg, OWCC president, acknowledged the "driving force" Campbell has been since the concept of a nursing and health technology program was broached four years ago. "Even through their personal loss Wayne and Susan keeping challenging our college to build a healthier community. We must work together to educate and train the individuals who will meet the health care needs of all of us."

Richburg said the Campbell's own contribution "goes beyond the tremendous partnership" OWCC and FWBMC have developed in basing the nursing program at the medical center and using hospital nurses as instructors at no cost.

"Our college is truly honored to name the nursing lab for Meagan and hope that in time, as the lab teaches ways of healing, that it will be a place that helps heal the loss for Wayne and Susan," said Richburg.

Proceeds from the naming of the Meagan Campbell nursing lab, Richburg said, will become part of the Health Technology Endowment and will be used to sustain to operational and faculty needs of the nursing program.