Kish College Foundation Secures $5,000 Grant for Nursing Initiative

The Kishwaukee College Foundation has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the 3M Site Hometown Donation program to support its Nursing Textbook Initiative. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on students enrolled in Kishwaukee College’s Nursing program, which faces higher textbook and class material costs compared to other programs.

As part of its efforts to enhance educational accessibility, Kishwaukee College will implement an “All-In” tuition model starting in Spring 2025. This model will include all fees and textbook costs within the tuition price. To ensure the sustainability of this model without imposing additional costs on Nursing students, the Foundation has taken steps to cover the increased expenses for the 2026 fiscal year and has established the Nursing Textbook Initiative for ongoing financial support.

“The Foundation is committed to ensuring our students have the resources they need to complete their educational and professional goals,” said Courtney Walz, director of development at Kishwaukee College. “We are thankful for 3M’s generosity to help kick off this initiative.”

Kishwaukee College’s Nursing program plays a crucial role in preparing qualified professionals for the regional healthcare system. Graduates of the program have consistently outperformed national standards, achieving higher than average pass rates on the National Council Licensure Exam-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Notably, 95% of program graduates secure employment as registered nurses within six months of completing their studies.

The 3M Site Hometown Donation program has contributed over $70.1 million to nonprofit organizations, demonstrating a strong commitment to community support and educational initiatives. This partnership with the Kishwaukee College Foundation highlights 3M’s ongoing dedication to enhancing educational resources and opportunities for students in need.