The Marshall University Foundation has announced a $50,000 gift to establish The Welch Family Nursing Scholarship in recognition of a life-saving act. The scholarship is generously endowed by W. Thomas “Tom” Matthews.
The Welch Family Nursing Scholarship was inspired by the kindness of Crystal and Nathan Welch, a mother and son, who administered CPR on Matthews after he suffered cardiac arrest. Without the Welches’ quick response, or the training they received through the Marshall University School of Nursing, he would not be alive today.
“I was lucky. While waiting in line, I went into cardiac arrest. No heartbeat, no pulse. Fortunately for me, two graduates from the Marshall nursing school were in the vicinity,” Matthews said. “My wife, Barbara, and I were pleased to establish the Welch Family Nursing Scholarship in hopes that future students will receive the training to do for others what the Welches did for me.”
Crystal Welch, M.S.N., R.N., received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Marshall in 1991. Since her graduation, she has dedicated 35 years of experience to the field. She has served as a staff nurse, quality improvement specialist, threat preparedness/emergency management coordinator, immunization coordinator, health care administrator and compliance and privacy officer. Additionally, she has worked within home health/palliative care, chronic disease, rural health and addiction medicine education fields.
Nathan Welch received his Bachelor of Science in nursing from Marshall in 2018. While in pursuit of his degree, he worked as a nurse extern at Cabell Huntington Hospital (CHH).Since his graduation, he has continued his nursing career with CHH, working in the surgical ICU for two years prior to making the change to his current roles as an operating room (OR) nurse and urology service coordinator. In 2023, Nathan was named “Clinical Employee of the Year” by CHH.
The Welches are lifelong residents of Huntington, West Virginia.
“At Marshall, the nursing program provides such an important foundation. It’s rooted in understanding the passion, critical thinking and kindness it takes to be a nurse. My instructors provided me with a lot of autonomy in my classes. As I began my career, that autonomy gave me so much confidence,” Crystal Welch said.
The Welches hope that their scholarship will provide current nursing students with the same foundational skills they need to thrive as they enter real-world patient care.
“I had opportunities to help communities and people that I never thought possible. The Marshall nursing program doesn’t sugarcoat anything. This field carries a lot of weight, and they give you all the knowledge needed to pursue it,” Nathan Welch said.
The recipient(s) will be a full-time or part-time junior or senior who is a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) major in the College of Health Professions and a West Virginia or metro resident. The recipient must be in good academic standing with a 2.5 GPA or higher.
The award is renewable for up to two years, or four semesters, if the recipient maintains good academic standing. The dean of the College of Health Professions will select recipients and renew the award in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
For information regarding The Welch Family Nursing Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.