Saint Martin's University announces Rose Crumb Nursing Scholarship

LACEY, Wash. – Saint Martin’s University alumnus, Patrick Crumb ’85, along with his wife, Karen, and Patrick’s eight siblings, have created an endowed scholarship to support undergraduate nursing students in memory of their mother, Rose Crumb. This generous endowment gift comes as a vital contribution to the For Every Saint Campaign, as we near our goal of $100 million.

“We are grateful to the Crumb family for this inspirational gift that will support our nursing students for generations to come,” said University President Jennifer Bonds-Raacke, Ph.D. “With the growing nursing shortage in the region, Saint Martin’s will continue to graduate bachelor-prepared nurses who will impact countless communities just like Rose did.” 

Rose had a storied career as a registered nurse and is remembered as a treasured member of the Port Angeles community, having founded Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County (VHOCC) in 1978.  She then served as VHOCC’s unpaid volunteer Executive Director for over 30 years.  The incredible work that she accomplished with VHOCC didn’t go unrecognized. Rose received numerous national awards for her public service, including the Jefferson Award and the Lane W. Adams Award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the American Cancer Society for excellence in cancer care.   

Rose also received the Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis Award from the American Institute for Public Service. The Kennedy-Onassis Award was conceived and founded by Jackie Kennedy-Onassis and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy with the vision that it would be “America’s Nobel Prize for public service.” Though she stepped down as the full-time executive director in 2009 at the age of 84, VHOCC continues to impact countless lives across the county through its volunteers and the care they provide for the terminally ill.  

It was this incredibly generous spirit of service that inspired the Crumb family to establish the Rose Crumb Nursing Scholarship Endowment at Saint Martin’s University. The scholarship endowment provides tuition support to students demonstrating financial need in the Saint Martin’s nursing program. With Rose’s impact in the Olympic Peninsula community, the scholarship preference is to first provide scholarship support to nursing students from Clallam County or transfer nursing students from Peninsula College in Port Angeles. If there is no student meeting that criteria, it may then go to any nursing student with financial need.  

The Crumb family’s gift of $150,000 was matched by the Saint Martin’s Abbey, bringing the initial scholarship endowment total to $300,000 in support of nursing students and doubling the impact of the Crumbs’ gift.   

“This scholarship endowment, supported by donations from her nine children, is a fitting way to honor the life and legacy of our mother, who set such an example of a life spent in service to others and her community,” said Patrick Crumb. “My wife Karen and I are committed to providing additional donations going forward to grow the scholarship endowment and to provide additional opportunities to nursing students in need of financial assistance. We are also incredibly thankful to the Abbey for its matching gift.” 

The Saint Martin’s nursing program has three pathways to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): the traditional four-year BSN, the LPN to BSN and the RN to BSN. These nursing tracks have 200 nursing students who are learning to work across care settings from acute care hospitals to the community as Rose Crumb did for much of her career. 

“The generous gift of an endowed nursing scholarship will not only provide critical nursing scholarships but will impact countless future patients cared for by these future nurses. Rose’s legacy as a nurse and hospice pioneer will be forever a part of the Saint Martin’s Nursing program,” shared Teri Woo, Ph.D., director of Saint Martin’s Nursing Program.   

The For Every Saint campaign reflects the University’s commitment to bringing together “people, place and purpose” to serve and promote the common good. The generosity of donors through this campaign will help the University 1) enhance academic excellence and innovative program development, with particular attention to attracting and retaining diverse and dedicated faculty; 2) construct, and create through renovation, modern facilities that promote community and bolster student learning and development; and 3) dramatically increase scholarships and holistic support for our undergraduate and graduate students. As of Dec. 31, 2022, the University has raised $96.77 million toward the campaign. 

Saint Martin’s University is an independent, four-year, coeducational university located on a wooded campus of more than 300 acres in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 13 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University prepares students for successful lives through its 29 majors, 11 master’s programs, one doctorate program and five certificate programs spanning the liberal arts, business, education, nursing and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes more than 1,300 undergraduate students and 250 graduate students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its Lacey campus, and more students to its extended campus located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.