Published on July 30th, 2024
Last modified July 30th, 2024 09:56 am
Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) Educational Foundation, Inc. is launching The Dr. Norman L. Rexrode, Jr. Memorial Scholarship for paramedic students. The scholarship is made possible by Dr. Bob Mueller, a grateful friend and former colleague, and honors Dr. Rexrode’s 42 years of practicing medicine and teaching paramedic classes at SWCC. Dr. Rexrode was an avid supporter of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and served as the Operational Medical Director (OMD) for SWVA Emergency Services.
The SWCC Educational Foundation is seeking additional donors to match Dr. Mueller’s gift of $5,000, as it hopes to endow the scholarship at least at a $10,000 level. “I would be challenged to think of another physician who offered more caring services to patients or who did more for EMS in Southwest Virginia,” said Mueller. Additional contributions will expand the scholarship’s reach, providing more paramedic students with financial assistance to pursue their career goals.
An endowed scholarship is a sustainable funding source where the principal donation is invested, and only the interest or income generated is used to provide scholarships. This ensures that the scholarship can support students year after year in the paramedic program, creating a lasting legacy.
“This endowed scholarship will enable us to continue training paramedics in Southwest Virginia,” said Bill Akers, EMT and paramedic program director at Southwest Virginia Community College. “We take pride in knowing that most emergency responders in our region were trained here. This scholarship lowers the financial barrier students often face, helping us maintain our role as a source of well-trained EMS professionals to serve our communities.” This new scholarship will be available for students at the college who are at least in the second semester of their professional training.
Donations to the scholarship can be made through the SWCC Educational Foundation, Inc. Every contribution will help the college reach its goal, support more students, and ensure that this scholarship remains available to students for years to come.
If you would like to contribute to the Dr. Norman L. Rexrode, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, please contact Susan Lowe at 276-964-7304 or email susan.lowe@sw.edu.
About the Educational Foundation:
Founded in 1981, the Southwest Virginia Community College Educational Foundation supports the college’s mission by providing financial assistance and opportunities to students, faculty, and staff. Governed by a board of community leaders, the non-profit has grown significantly since its inception and is enabled to offer numerous scholarships to students from Buchanan, Dickenson (partial), Russell, and Tazewell Counties.