Linda Relyea
Adams State College
ALAMOSA (October 26) Mary McAninch Beaver’s appreciation of the Adams State College Nursing Program, inspired her, and her husband Cal, to establish a scholarship for nursing students.
A valley native, Beaver, encourages local students to pursue a career in nursing. “I enjoyed being a nurse. It is gratifying to know you saved a person’s life.” Her nursing career spanned four decades at Porter Hospital in Denver.
Dr. Amanda Jojola, director of nursing, said the department and nursing students appreciate the Beavers “kind hearts” and abundant generosity. “Not only will their gift directly help nursing students, but it will also indirectly help us build a strong nursing community within the San Luis Valley.”
Jojola escorted Beaver and Janet, Beaver’s sister, and Jasper Mangum, through the Adams State nursing department. With recent remodels, the department has a lot of new technology to offer students including computer programmed mannequins which simulate a full range of disease processes, medical-surgical events, mental health issues, and obstetric and pediatric situations.
“This is fantastic,” Beaver said. “I can’t believe all the steps made from when I went to school.” The upgraded technology assists in training and teaching, however, patient-nurse relationships remain the same. “Nursing is an honorable career. Our connection with the patient often means their survival.”
A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Nursing, Beaver said her donation would make a difference in a smaller institution. “My donation will impact Adams State, in a way it couldn’t at a larger institution like the University of Colorado.”
Mangum, a ‘63 Adams State alumna, donated money for the first computer programmed mannequin in 2006. The two sisters, Mangum in Albuquerque and Beaver, in Evergreen, Colo., often meet in Alamosa to reunite. “Mary worked for Porter Hospital in Denver for 41 years,” Jan said. “She was devoted to her patients.”
A 1966 nursing graduate, Beaver said they had a resuscitation Annie and the rest was hands-on with live patients, textbooks, films. “It is fantastic Adams State has a nursing school. It provides a good opportunity for valley residents with career goals in the field.”
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