Miracle Riders announce new endowment for Columbus State University

I want you to imagine something for a minute. Imagine a nurse caring for a critically ill newborn in the middle of the night. The baby's condition suddenly worsens, the family is frightened, and every second matters. But that nurse, that CSU nurse, has practiced this very scenario in a simulation lab, learning how to respond quickly, make critical decisions, and provide competent and compassionate care. That is the impact that these miracle riders have had. Thank you so much. Because of their generosity, Columbus State now has three state-of-the-art simulation labs that rival Research One universities. Since the creation of these three labs, the BSN enrollment has increased every single year. We are almost at an overall 15% increase in just a very few years. Our graduate enrollment has also increased, and I believe that is because we have elevated our credibility as a nursing program because of the state-of-the-art facilities. When Dr. Condrey, our nursing director, and I assume leadership of the college, our NCLEX pass rate, and the NCLEX is the licensure exam that nurses have to take to practice, was approximately 61%. In 2025, it reached 96%. Today, it is currently at 100%. We still have our fingers and toes crossed because we just have a few nurses that still have to take the exam this year. But y'all, that is extraordinary. Our faculty have worked so hard to make that happen. And because our students get to practice these critical skills before they even enter a health care facility, and they are able to learn them deeply and know what to do in those situations, that has helped our NCLEX pass rate as well. And you know what? We don't keep these resources to ourselves. NICU nurses and military reservists have practiced in our simulation labs. Soon, Columbus Fire and EMS will also use these facilities, providing paramedics, EMTs, and students with realistic simulation experiences that will strengthen pre-hospital care. But perhaps the greatest impact of the Miracle Riders goes far beyond our university. This investment doesn't end when our students graduate or our community partners complete their training. It continues with every patient they care for, every family they comfort, every emergency they respond to, and every life they touch. Their generosity will impact thousands upon thousands of lives for years to come. That is a powerful legacy. Thank you, Miracle Riders, on behalf of our faculty, our staff, our students, and all the lives that will be touched by the work you do, we are eternally grateful. Thank you.