South Central Career Center Receives Major Donation

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South Central Career Center Director Jim Laughary and Dr. Josh Cotter, Assistant Director, announced a maximum of $100,000 gift from Clarence “Butch” Shelton for the Practical Nursing program.  The gift will principally support Practical Nursing scholarships.  The donation is intended to build on SCCC’s existing practice of innovation and entrepreneurship and achieve new levels of academic excellence in nursing.  The Scholarship has been named: Clarence “Butch” Shelton Healthcare Fund-Class of l965

In recognition of Shelton’s generosity and his belief in the school’s mission and promise, a reception was held in his honor on Wednesday, April 25th.  Speakers included Dr. John Mulford, Superintendent of Schools, Joe Kammerer, Community Foundation of the Ozarks and ???.

The initial scholarship will be in the amount of $4,000 for students who have completed a minimum of the first three months in the program. The scholarship will be based on academic merit, aptitude and financial need.  The maximum amount of each award will not exceed $2,000 per student.

Clarence “Butch” Shelton graduated from West Plains High School in l965 and enlisted in the United States Army where he served our country for 31 years from the platoon level to his final assignment as the Deputy Commander of a Division Unit.  He is among those inducted into the U.S. Army’s Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia. He retired from the Army in l997 after achieving the rank of Colonel.

After leaving Active Duty and joining the Army Reserves, Mr. Shelton began serving in another capacity—as an administrator for long-term care facilities.  He has served as Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, and Division President for large, nationwide healthcare systems.  Butch has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Butch and his wife, Carolyn, now call Talladega, AL home.

“The commitment to training our next generation of nurses will outlive all of us here….that legacy will now always be a part of South Central Career Center and on behalf of those future scholarship recipients, thank you.” says SCCC Director Jim Laughary.

Photo – Left to Right – Joe Kammerer, Community Foundation of the Ozarks; Dr. Josh Cotter, Assistant SCCC Director; Karen Sartin, SCCC Practical Nursing Coordinator; Butch & Carolyn Shelton; Dr. John Mulford, Superintendent of Schools; Jim Laughary, SCCC Director.