CANTON -- In response to the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Foundation’s “Constructing Healthier Communities” campaign, the Canton College Foundation has established a $25,000 scholarship fund to assist graduate nurses employed at the hospital.

The fund will provide scholarships for the next five years to Hospital employees who already have their two-year RN degree and are pursuing a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

“We have many excellent nurses on staff who are graduates of SUNY Canton’s RN program,” noted C-PH President and CEO David B. Acker. “As the nursing profession has advanced, new standards of care require advanced training. SUNY Canton’s online graduate nursing program is a perfect fit for our staff, enabling them to pursue their degree while working.”

The first two scholarship recipients are Tammy Sykes, nurse manager in the hospital’s emergency department; and TeriAnn Crump, nurse in inpatient chemical dependency rehabilitation. Both nurses received their RN training at SUNY Canton.

With the Canton College Foundation’s commitment, gifts, grants and pledges to the Hospital Foundation’s “Constructing Healthier Communities” campaign have topped $3 million.

“We are gratified that we found such a meaningful way to be a part of the hospital’s campaign,” noted SUNY Canton Vice President for Advancement David Gerlach. “This is just one more example of how our two institutions can partner creatively.”

Shown, front row from left: Tammy Sykes, RN; Carli Schiffner, Interim President, SUNY Canton; David Acker, Hospital President and CEO; and TeriAnn Crump, RN. Back row, from left: Adam Bullock, MSN, RN; and David Gerlach, Vice President for Advancement at SUNY Canton.