Two Nursing Students, One Powerful Investment in Care

This spring, the BTC Education Foundation awarded scholarships to two future nurses who are working hard to serve communities across southwest Missouri.

For Malena Presley of Bolivar and Stacey Sharp of Buffalo, this scholarship is more than financial assistance. It’s encouragement. It’s relief. It’s a reminder that someone believes in their calling.

Meet the Students You’re Supporting

• Stacey Sharp, Practical Nursing (LPN) Program

• Malena Presley, Professional Nursing (RN) Program

Stacey is pursuing her Licensed Practical Nursing credential through BTC’s Practical Nursing program. Her training is focused, rigorous, and designed to prepare her to step directly into patient care roles that our rural facilities depend on every day.

Malena is preparing for a career as a Registered Nurse through BTC’s Professional Nursing program, which also blends classroom learning with hands-on skills and real-world clinical experience. She is building the confidence and clinical judgment required to care for patients in high-demand healthcare settings.

Both women represent what makes BTC students so special. They are determined. They are community-minded. And like many of our students, they are balancing coursework, clinical hours, work, and family responsibilities while pursuing a better future.

Why This Scholarship Matters

The BTC Education Foundation Scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate dedication, financial need, and a deep commitment to serving others through healthcare.

As one Foundation Board Member shared, “The BTC Education Foundation exists to help students focus on what matters most: succeeding in their education and stepping confidently into their future careers in healthcare.”

For students at BTC, that support can mean:

• Fewer work hours and more study time during their program
• Less financial stress during demanding clinical rotations
• Greater focus on mastering patient care skills
• The ability to graduate and enter the workforce ready to serve

And when they succeed, our communities benefit.

Your Gift Strengthens Healthcare in Southwest Missouri

Through donor support and community partnerships, the BTC Education Foundation continues to provide meaningful assistance to nursing students across BTC programs.

Every scholarship awarded is a direct investment in:

• Safer staffing in local hospitals and clinics
• Stronger long-term care facilities
• Compassionate nurses serving rural communities
• The next generation of healthcare leaders

Many of our graduates stay and work right here at home. Your generosity doesn’t just change one life. It strengthens the quality of care families depend on every single day.

Be Part of a Student’s Story

If you are an alumni who remembers the long nights of studying or a community member who believes in building a stronger healthcare workforce, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

A gift to the BTC Education Foundation helps remove barriers and open doors for students who are ready to serve.

To make a donation or learn more about supporting nursing students, visit our giving page or call 417-777-5062.

Together, we can continue investing in students like Malena and Stacey and in the future of healthcare across southwest Missouri.