John Brown University recently announced a $200,000 gift from Hobby Lobby toward the university’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. With this gift JBU has raised more than $10 million of the $12 million nursing program goal, which will fund the new $6 million Health Education Building as well as the program and equipment costs and endowment.

“We are so grateful to Hobby Lobby for their generous gift toward nursing education at JBU,” said Chip Pollard, JBU president. “Nursing uniquely supports JBU’s Head, Heart, Hand education philosophy, and we are proudly anticipating the graduation of JBU’s first cohort of BSN trained nurses in 2018.”

The university began to develop the nursing program over five years ago and received unanimous approval from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing in 2013. Currently, the program enrolls 82 students.

“In addition to standard nursing classes, students will take classes in theology and leadership and complete a clinical with at-risk people groups be it in NWA, Guatemala City or Malawi,” said Dr. Ellen Odell, nursing program director. “Our goal is not only to excellently educate our students, but also to show them the power of their education to make a real impact in the world.”

In August 2015, JBU broke ground on the Health Education Building which will house simulation patient rooms, clinic teaching space, four exam rooms, two health assessment labs, three classrooms, a computer lab and study lounges. The building is scheduled to open this fall for classes.

The gift is a part of the university’s $125 million Campaign for the Next Century. JBU has currently raised more than $79 million toward the $125 million goal and plans to complete the campaign on JBU’s centennial in 2019.