Marietta resident Glenn Gray has established a $700,000 endowment at Kennesaw State University (KSU) to support nursing students in the Wellstar School of Nursing. The Glenn and Virginia Gray Family Nursing Scholarship honors his late wife, Ginny, who was a nurse and passed away in 2017, and his son Rick, an oncologist who died in 2015.
“I wanted to do something meaningful to honor both of these individuals who meant so much to our family,” Gray said. “I’m grateful that my entire family joined me in this effort. It is a privilege to celebrate their memory and, hopefully, make a positive difference for someone in the future.”
Gray retired as chief test pilot at Lockheed-Martin in 1990 after decades of service. He met Ginny during high school in Charleston, South Carolina; she began her nursing career shortly after World War II. Their son Rick grew up surrounded by medical professionals before specializing in oncology.
“Philanthropy like this is transformational for our students and for the future of nursing,” said Lance Burchett, vice president for advancement and CEO of the KSU Foundation. “Mr. Gray’s extraordinary generosity honors his family’s legacy in the most meaningful way, and it will open doors for generations of aspiring nurses who are ready to make a difference in their communities.”
Rebecca Shabo, interim director of the Wellstar School of Nursing, noted that the scholarship will help address ongoing shortages of nurses across Georgia and the region. Since 2020, enrollment at KSU’s Wellstar School has more than doubled.
“This gift helps the Wellstar School of Nursing graduate nurses that might not have been able to complete the program without this support,” said Shabo. “The students will tell you that this gift means someone believes in them, someone is betting on them to succeed, someone is investing in their future.”
Cameron Greensmith, interim associate dean at Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, said donations such as Gray’s reflect growth within the nursing program through increased staffing and student numbers.
“We now educate over 1,000 nursing students a year,” Greensmith said. “Many of these students carry significant financial need, and gifts such as this will make a meaningful and lasting impact, not just today but for years to come.”
