CF celebrates $1 million healthcare scholarship donation with renaming event

College of Central Florida students training in healthcare fields at the CF Citrus Campus now have a new source of financial aid, announced a CF press release on Jan. 20, thanks to a $1 million donation from the Citrus County Hospital Board.

The Charles S. Dean Sr. Endowed Scholarship for Health Sciences will provide tuition assistance for Citrus County residents seeking a Health Sciences degree from CF.

“Now more than ever we see a need to recruit and train qualified healthcare professionals to meet the growing demands of our local communities,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, president of the College of Central Florida. “The new Charles S. Dean Sr. Endowed Scholarship for Health Sciences is a game-changer for our Health Sciences programs and the educational opportunities it opens up to countless students each year.”

Deborah L. Ressler, BSN, chair of the Citrus County Hospital Board, said the board was pleased to support the new scholarship.

“This support will ensure Citrus County students can participate in healthcare programs offered at the Citrus Campus and will enhance the students’ opportunities to participate in the delivery of healthcare in our community,” she said.

Dean, one of the founders of the hospital board, is a CF alumnus and received the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011. He is a lifelong resident of Citrus County, serving in the Florida Senate from 2007 to 2012, the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2007, and was Citrus County Sheriff from 1981 to 1996.

In recognition of this gift, the CF Citrus Campus Learning & Conference Center was renamed the Charles S. Dean, Sr. Educational Center on Jan. 28.

To learn more, visit CF.edu/foundation.