Sandra Critzer Close Scholarship Endowment in Nursing

Sandra Critzer Close, '86, came to Meredith at age 40 to pursue a degree in sociology. She became assistant director of the 23+ program, now known as Wings, which is Meredith's adult education program. She served as director from 1994-2002. In that role, she guided and encouraged other adult women, some very apprehensive, to begin or complete their college education. She wisely advised, enthusiastically cheered, and patiently listened, sharing the joys and sorrows of her students. Many 23+ graduates credit Close for helping them cross the finish line.

Before returning to Meredith in 1994, she worked as a radiology technologist at Wake Internal Medicine. As an advocate for Meredith's new BSN, With a will bequest, Close is creating one of the first scholarships in nursing. The scholarship will help those who need financial support to achieve their goal of helping others as a nurse.

At Close's endowment signing in February, three doctors she worked with and their wives attended, showing their support of her scholarship endowment and the BSN program.

Attendees were physicians she worked with at Wake Internal Medicine, all of whom are now retired. Her daughter Cary was also in attendance. During the endowment signing, President Aimee Sapp told Close that she had heard many stories about her work with adult students at Meredith.

"I'm sure to people who were sharing their joys and sorrows and probably uncertainties and concerns about 'can I actually do this?', found you to be a perfect person to talk to about it, because you went back to school too, and did it with grace and did a fantastic job," said President Aimee Sapp.

As former director of Wings, Close knows the importance of scholarships and that students like to know financial support is available when considering Meredith.

"It all starts with getting students here and having scholarships available, so we thank you, Sandra," said Michelle Hartman, nursing program director. Before coming to Meredith, Hartman was an assistant professor and assistant dean of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Duke University School of Nursing.

Students will begin in the fall of 2025, but according to Hartman, the nursing building that the College is currently raising funds for will not be needed until the fall of 2027. They will spend their first two years taking biology, chemistry, math, English, history, a foreign language, and other prerequisite classes for nursing. "We will focus on transfer students starting in the second year, so we can get our processes in place this year. And then we'll add transfer students. We've talked to people who would be Wings or second-degree students who are interested and want to know the timeline," said Hartman.

Close is very excited about the nursing program and is so pleased to see her two careers, nursing and education, come together with this new degree at Meredith to help ease the nursing shortage.

"Thank you for having this endowment signing where I could include some friends and people I love and have worked with in the field of medicine. I appreciate it so much," said Close.

Close has also endowed the Sandra Close Scholarship for Wings students and supported multiple Wings student reunions, including the 50th anniversary Wings celebration in the fall of 2024.