News and Announcements - October 2009

GMC RECEIVES HISTORIC GIFT FROM ALUMNA

Frances M. and James J. Maguire

Gwynedd-Mercy College received a gift of $5 million to name its highly respected nursing program as the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing. The gift comes just two weeks before the nursing school celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

The contribution is the largest-ever alumni gift in the history of the college. Mrs. Maguire, of Wyndmoor, Pa., graduated from Gwynedd-Mercy College in 1955, and later returned to study nursing in the mid-1970s.

The gift will form an endowment for the nursing school, as well as meet some immediate priorities for nursing students and faculty. Three important areas that the gift will help address are scholarships, faculty support and best-practice technology and equipment.     

Located in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., the Maguire Foundation has a mission to invest in education where there is a high probability of good return, and Gwynedd-Mercy College is well known for its high graduation rates and excellent career preparation for students. “Gwynedd-Mercy College would never give up on a student,” Mrs. Maguire said. “Its faculty and staff always encourage students to move forward, ask for help and follow their dreams!”

Read more on Philly.com.

Frances M. and James J. Maguire with nursing students in the newly renovated nursing skills laboratory at Gwynedd-Mercy College. Through the Maguires’ contribution, the lab was updated with state-of-the-art equipment.

GWYNEDD-MERCY COLLEGE GOES PUBLIC WITH $20 MILLION CAMPAIGN

Gwynedd-Mercy College announces the public phase of its $20 million capital campaign, which was propelled by a $5 million gift received two weeks ago from Frances M. and James J. Maguire.

The announcement was made during the college’s 50th Nursing Anniversary celebration by campaign chair William J. Avery, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Cork & Seal Company, a Philadelphia-based, worldwide packaging company. Avery serves on the Board of Trustees for the College.

The $20 million campaign is Gwynedd-Mercy College’s first comprehensive campaign. The college has already raised nearly $11 million since the silent phase began in January 2008.

All contributions during a five-year period are counted towards the goal. The campaign funds will be geared toward more student scholarships, endowed professorships, program support including student internship, research and international experience funds, projects for student life on campus, technology enhancements and annual giving.

NATIONAL RESPIRATORY CARE WEEK

October 25-31, 2009

They want to help you breathe easier. They treat people who have allergies, asthma and other breathing disorders. They do everything from measuring lung capacity and providing therapy for people with lung disorders to teaching smoking cessation programs. They work with premature babies in hospitals as well as elderly in their own homes. There are 100,000 of them in the country.

They are Respiratory Therapists!

To help celebrate National Respiratory Care Week 2009, the students of the Respiratory Care Program at Gwynedd-Mercy College will be holding a peak flow contest to see who has the most “hot air” on campus! RC student “meter-readers” will   be roving the campus all week during the lunch hours to measure the lung function of GMC students, staff and faculty members. Movie gift baskets will be awarded to the top winners in each category! R

Ready...set...blow!! 

In addition, there will be a display table set-up outside the Respiratory Care Lab in Keiss Hall all week. Please stop by to obtain information on lung health and the RC profession!

VISITORS FROM UKRAINE LEARN ABOUT GMC PROGRAMS

Ukrainian visitors came to Gwynedd-Mercy College on Monday, Oct. 26 through the International Visitors Council of Philadelphia.

Each visitor administers programs at educational institutions in Ukraine and traveled to the United States to learn about our education systems. They represented Ukrainian Catholic University, Odesa State Economic University, Kharkiv University of Humanities, Dnipropetrovsk University of Economics and Law and Kyiv Mohyla Business School.

At Gwynedd-Mercy College, they learned about small colleges, business programs (especially for adults) and our business education program. Members of the School of Business and Center for Lifelong Learning presented to the Ukrainian visitors on topics including dual enrollment agreements with high schools, accelerated programs, cross national virtual team projects, pedagogical approach to teaching, criteria for successful MBA Programs, importance of cultural understanding and international initiatives.