One of Kelowna’s best-known families is giving back to the Okanagan in a major way.
It was announced today that the Stober family, through the Stober Foundation, is committing $500,000 over five years to help develop a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Centre at Okanagan College.
Photo Credit: Okanagan CollegeA rendering of the Health Sciences Centre
At a time where our frontline healthcare professionals are being recognized for their heroic efforts against COVID-19, this new addition to OC will help aid in that fight.
The Health Sciences Centre on the Kelowna campus will train 450 students per year over the next four decades.
It will serve as a leading-edge training hub for students who will move on to provide care in the region’s hospitals, long-term care facilities, pharmacies, rehab centres, dental clinics and mental health services.
“Now more than ever, we recognize the critical role of frontline health care professionals,” says Keith Z. Brewster, executive director of the Stober Foundation.
“COVID-19 continues to highlight the dedication and commitment of all those on the frontlines in our community, specifically health care professionals.”
Photo Credit: ContributedKeith Z. Brewster (L) and Ken Stober
To honour the Stober family and this generous donation, the Okanagan College Foundation is establishing a $250,000 award fund.
It will provide vital financial support to 100 students, helping them achieve their education goals and progress to these vital careers in healthcare.
“Okanagan College has been educating health care professionals since the early 1960s,” said Jim Hamilton, OC president.
“Our graduates – and many of our current students – are serving on the frontlines during this public health crisis. We are exceptionally proud of all of them, and of the quality of education they received.”
The BC government contributed $15.4-million in funding towards the $18.9-million Health Sciences Centre.
It will be equipped with leading-edge technology to mimic modern healthcare workplace settings, replacing aging health labs and classrooms that were built in the 1960s.
