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The Stanly Community College Foundation has announced the establishment of the Dr. Michael and Alice Taylor Nurse Aide Scholarship. This is the second $20,000 endowed scholarship that the Taylors have established at SCC, the first one being in 2018. The Nurse Aide scholarship valued at $1,000 will be awarded each year, beginning in August, for a student enrolled in any of the SCC’s four Nurse Aide (NA) programs.

“Alice and I feel strongly that nurses’ aides are the unsung heroes of the pandemic,” Dr. Taylor said. “These are people who have worked tirelessly in facilities and private homes all over our country to keep people, especially the sick and elderly, safe. We have seen this in our own family and in those of our friends. Creating this scholarship for a Nurse Aide student is our way of acknowledging that work and emphasizing what an important job they do for all of us.”

Taylor served as SCC president for 15 years, from 1996 until he retired in 2011. Taylor served four North Carolina community colleges for more than 32 years, the last 21 years at SCC. He came to SCC in 1990 as vice president of instruction before being named the college’s third president in 1996. During his tenure, the college added the Crutchfield Campus at Locust and developed a strong online presence through Stanly Online (distance learning). Taylor was also a strong advocate for the creation of Stanly Early College, which began on the Albemarle campus in 2006. The college also was awarded nearly $8 million in grants during his time as college president, funds that were used to upgrade and initiate new programs including heavy equipment, technology and health care.

Alice Taylor, who taught in six school systems across the state in her 30-year career, taught at Albemarle Middle School from 1990 until her retirement in 2003. She was 2000-2001 Stanly County Teacher of the Year.

SCC currently offers four Nurse’s Aide levels of study including: Nurse’s Aide Level 1, Nurse’s Aide Level I review, Nurse’s Aide Level II and the Nurse’s Aide Level I, blended. The Nurse’s Aide Level I students learn to provide personal care and perform basic nursing skills such as checking for vital signs, bed-making, bathing, dressing, feeding, ambulating and transferring. The course consists of theory, lab and clinical hours in a long-term care facility. Upon satisfactory completion of the course, the graduate will receive a Certificate of Completion and be eligible to register for the NNAAP State Exam through NACES. Upon passing the state exam, the candidate will be eligible to be listed on the North Carolina Nurse’s Aide 1 Registry.

The nurse aide program is offered through the college continuing education division. This is the first scholarship offered in this area. For more information, visit www.stanly.edu.