Repchick creates scholarship funds to benefit nursing students

Alumnus and health care executive George Repchick '82 has created two new scholarship programs to help students in the nursing program at Pitt-Bradford.

The $35,000 Repchick Family Fund will provide $25,000 in scholarships for students who have earned an Associate of Science in Nursing and are choosing to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Students will use the remaining $10,000 to defray the cost of books.

“It takes a special person to be a health care provider,” Repchick said. “Today, young adults have many options and choices for a career, and those that want to enter the field of nursing have made more than a valuable career choice - they have also committed in a large way to their community.

“It was not a difficult decision to support the students who have made this choice. It is an absolute honor to participate in the programs.

Dr. Tammy Haley, associate professor of nursing and director of the nursing program, said, “Mr. Repchick has been incredibly generous in his support of Pitt-Bradford nursing. As a leader in the healthcare industry, he is a great advocate for the power of nursing. When he visited campus last year, he spoke with our nursing students about how many options are open to them with a degree in nursing. The students recognized that Mr. Repchick doesn't just talk about opportunities, he helps create them.”

In 2017, Repchick and his business partner, Bill Weisberg, donated a new SimMan electronic simulation mannequin to the Pitt-Bradford nursing program. Repchick and Weisberg own Saber Healthcare Group, which owns and operates more than 100 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in six states that employ more than 10,000 people.

As a member and past president of the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association board of directors, he has served as chair of its scholarship committee and annually hosts a Dinner with a Panther for students.

This summer, Pitt-Bradford's nursing program was recognized for the second year in a row by Colleges of Distinction, which noted the university's real-world learning opportunities, such as the nursing simulation lab and clinical hours.

Pitt-Bradford also was ranked fourth by the Council for Aid to Education for allocating the highest percentage of donor contributions to financial aid. To learn more about establishing a scholarship at Pitt-Bradford, contact Jill Dunn, executive director of institutional advancement at 814-362-5091 or jdunn@pitt.edu.