SOUTH CHARLESTON, W. Va. – BridgeValley Community and Technical College has announced a new partnership with Harmony Senior Services to support the next generation of nurses through the creation of the Harmony Senior Services Nursing Scholarship.

The Harmony Senior Services Scholarship, established by the James R. and Augustine D. Smith Charitable Foundation, honors the memory of Ona Shrader Smith, mother of James R. Smith. Born and raised in West Virginia, Ona believed deeply in the power of hard work and perseverance to change lives. In tribute to her legacy, the scholarship supports promising BridgeValley students who demonstrate the ambition, resilience, and strength of character that Ona so greatly admired.

The scholarship will award $1,000 to ten BridgeValley nursing students annually for the next ten years. To qualify, a nursing student will need to have completed at least one semester and maintain a 3.0 GPA. The first award will be given this fall. Applications are due by June 23. The award is to be used for tuition and fees, textbooks, and/or other required materials for the nursing program.

Founded by James R. Smith, Harmony Senior Services is one of the nation's fastest-growing senior living providers. Mr. Smith launched the company to fill a critical gap in care for middle-income seniors, who often fall between government-supported services and private long-term care options.

"This scholarship is a way to invest in the next generation of caregivers who will serve our communities with dignity and dedication," said James R. Smith, Founder of Harmony Senior Services. "We are proud to support a local institution that shares our values and vision for care."

Harmony operates a senior living community, Harmony at Southridge, in Charleston. The scholarship represents a shared commitment between Harmony and BridgeValley to improve access to education and strengthen the healthcare workforce in West Virginia.

"We are grateful to Harmony for recognizing the impact our students will have in meeting the region’s growing healthcare needs," said Andrea Petry, Director of the BridgeValley Foundation. "This gift helps remove financial barriers while honoring the values that define excellent patient care."

For more information, contact [email protected].