Donors make record-breaking gift to nursing students at TU

By Cody Boteler on May 11, 2021

A generous, $1.32 million gift to the College of Health Professions (CHP) will create scholarships for 10 nursing students each year. The donation is the single largest gift to the CHP in Towson University’s history.

The gift, from Alena and David M. Schwaber, comes during National Nurses Week and at a time when Towson University is saluting frontline workers.

David, who has no prior relationship with Towson University, says the way nurses have been working during the COVID-19 pandemic has inspired him. The Schwabers have previously supported nursing students at Harford Community College and Johns Hopkins University. The pandemic made them want to expand their giving.

“Nursing is a very noble field,” David continues.

“ The Schwabers' gift is a clear demonstration of faith in Towson University as an anchor institution for greater Baltimore, and as a leading provider of bedside nurses in Maryland. ”

Many students from Harford Community College finish at Towson University—a significant reason the Schwabers gave to TU, David says.

President Kim Schatzel thanked the Schwabers for their historic gift. 

“The Schwabers’ gift is a clear demonstration of faith in Towson University as an anchor institution for greater Baltimore, and as a leading provider of bedside nurses in Maryland,” Schatzel says. “The scholarships created from their gift will allow us to continue to attract top-tier nursing students from diverse backgrounds and train the next generation of healthcare leaders.”

TU is the largest provider of health care workers in Maryland and has a nursing licensure examination pass rate of 91%, higher than the national average. Recently announced plans for a new, 240,000-square-foot, $175-million building for CHP represent a significant investment in Towson University’s leadership in health professions.

Lisa Plowfield, CHP dean, says the gift from the Schwabers is “a mark of confidence and trust in nurses and our need for more well-educated and well-prepared nurses.” Plowfield is also grateful for the Schwabers’ dedication to supporting nursing programs and students in the region.

“I am most thankful for their trust in Towson University and in the high caliber of our nursing program,” she says.

The annual scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate compelling need based on personal or financial hardship. A total of 10 students at the junior and senior class levels are eligible to receive the scholarship, and it is renewable if the student remains in good academic standing.

“ ...this incredibly generous gift will give back to the community for years to come. ”

The intent is to cover the cost of in-state tuition, and the first awards will be made available for this fall term.

Hayley Mark, chair of the Department of Nursing, says the gift from the Schwabers will help make the difference beyond assisting students monetarily.

“I’d also like to point out that this incredibly generous gift will give back to the community for years to come, as the students who receive the scholarships graduate and become working nurses, caring for sick and injured members of our community,” Mark says.

For David Schwaber, the connection to nursing is personal. A nurse cared for his father when he was terminally ill, and David himself has twice required hospital care.

“There are always nurses,” he says. “The doctor may be taking care of you, but the nurses are living with you.”

The generosity of Alena and David Schwaber continues to build momentum for RISE—Towson University’s $100 million comprehensive campaign—and fuels TU’s progress and leadership that drive economic development for our city, state and region.