The nursing program at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) enjoyed another clean sweep in 2017: For the fourth time in recent years its graduates scored a 100 percent pass rate on the state licensing exam.
Fifty-seven CSUCI nursing graduates passed the state boards on their first attempt between July 1 and September 30. It now falls to this year’s graduating class to repeat the feat – including at least three Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara award recipients.
Since 2014 the Scholarship Foundation has supported area nursing students through unique partnerships with the Brittingham Family Foundation, the St. Francis Foundation, Cottage Hospital, and the CSUCI Nursing Program at Cottage Health.
Each year the organization awards four St. Francis Foundation Scholarships ($3,750 apiece) and three Brittingham Family Foundation Scholarships ($5,000 apiece) to students pursuing undergraduate degrees in nursing at CSUCI’s Goleta campus, located next to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital
This year’s senior awardees are Robert Uichanco, Amanda Garcia (both St. Francis), and Jason Aalberts (Brittingham).
In September, Amanda (pictured) received the prestigious CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. The award recognizes students who demonstrate superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, and community service.
The CSUCI nursing program was recently ranked 11th statewide by RegisteredNursing.org. The program’s exceptionally high license-exam pass rate was among the metrics cited.
We salute the Brittingham Family Foundation and the St. Francis Foundation, along with Cottage Hospital and the CSUCI Nursing Program at Cottage Health. Their investments in students pursuing undergraduate nursing degrees at CSUCI’s Goleta campus are sure to bolster healthcare quality in our community, and affirm Cottage Health’s status as the region’s premier healthcare provider.