LAWTON – To address the critical shortage of nurses by providing scholarship support for University of Oklahoma nursing students based in Lawton, the McMahon Foundation is presenting a $150,000 grant to the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the OU Health Sciences Center. The grant brings the McMahon Foundation’s total giving to the University to nearly $2 million.

“With a shortage of professional nurses in Oklahoma to address the health of our citizens, I am delighted the McMahon Foundation has chosen to support student scholarships. We celebrate this collaboration and significant support for our nursing students on the Lawton campus,” said Lazelle Benefield, dean of the OU College of Nursing. The three-year grant will provide $50,000 in scholarship support for each of the next three academic years for a total of 50 scholarships per year.

“Members of the McMahon Foundation are happy to provide scholarships for OU’s nursing students here in Lawton. We realize that there is a continuing shortage of nurses in Oklahoma and hope that many students will choose to stay and work in this area,” said Kenneth Bridges, chairman of the McMahon Foundation Board of Trustees. This grant will greatly impact students and address the critical health needs in Lawton and surrounding areas by graduating more highly qualified nurses.