Empowering Nursing Students

Buchmueller Family's Legacy of Giving Continues to Empower Texas Tech Health El Paso Students

Generous $10,000 gift to Hunt School of Nursing seeks to alleviate the nursing shortage and expand educational opportunities for El Paso residents

Karina Damian believes nurses have the power to transform lives during times of illness.

"People will not always remember our name or even what we did for them, but they’ll remember how we made them feel,” Damian said.

Damian is on track to become a nurse by attending the Hunt School of Nursing at Texas Tech Health El Paso.

Achieving that dream sometimes requires help. Enter El Pasoans David and Flo Buchmueller, who during a special luncheon on July 22, gave a generous $10,000 gift to the university to support nursing scholarships. This gift will provide financial assistance to two deserving students, Karina Damian and Adolfo Grajeda, each receiving $5,000 to further their nursing education. Both are members of the class of 2025.

The Buchmuellers met the scholarship recipients at the luncheon. David shared his background in health care, recounting his journey from working as an orderly and janitor to becoming a CEO, and engaged with the students about their studies.

Flo also shared her own experience of helping out at a hospital and the importance of being compassionate as a nurse.

"Once, when I was volunteering at a hospital, there was a patient who was crying and his nose was running," Flo said. "And I went and wiped his nose.”

A health care worker then yelled at her that the patient had a very serious illness that put her at risk.

“And I said, 'If that's what it's going to be, I'm glad I helped somebody,’” Flo recalled about her experience.

Damian, a graduate of Maxine L. Silva Health Magnet High School in El Paso, is beyond grateful for the scholarship.

“This scholarship is a blessing,” she said. “The Buchmuellers, without knowing who I am, have graciously provided financial support to help me accomplish my goals. Something they said to me today I will write down and use for inspiration: Don’t just care for patients, care about patients. One day, I hope to have the means to give back to my community in the same way.”

Grajeda, a graduate of Americas High School in El Paso, shared his thoughts on the impact of the scholarship and his future career.

“As a nurse, I’ll be with my patients for hours on end to provide care. It’s important for me to be their voice among the health care team, respect their wishes, and work toward their health goals,” he said. “This blessing of a scholarship means I’m able to focus my energy on school instead of worrying about finances. It’s a motivator to push forward and excel in my classes.”

The Buchmuellers have been steadfast supporters of Texas Tech Health El Paso since 1996, contributing to various programs including the Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso’s Breast Care Center, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine's Dean's Excellence Fund and multiple Foster School of Medicine white coat gifts.

“We’re honored to support students like Karina and Adolfo in their journey to become the compassionate and skilled nurses our community needs,” said David Buchmueller. “Our longstanding commitment to Texas Tech Health El Paso reflects our belief in the vital role that education and health care play in building a strong and healthy community. By providing these scholarships, we hope to ease the financial burden on these dedicated students, allowing them to focus on their studies and ultimately give back to our Borderplex in meaningful ways. Supporting future nurses aligns with our ongoing efforts to improve health care and education in El Paso.”

David has an extensive background in the healthcare industry, having served for 25 years as a hospital or health system CEO, including four years at Providence Memorial Hospital in the early 1990s. Flo, recognized for her volunteerism as well as her executive leadership of two not-for-profit organizations is an inductee of the El Paso Women's Hall of Fame. She has dedicated her time to numerous organizations, including the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence, Humane Society of El Paso, the YWCA, Sunrise Rotary, and the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation.

In 2018, the Buchmuellers were honored with the Project Amistad Lucy G. Acosta Humanitarian Award for their exceptional contributions to the community.

About Texas Tech Health El Paso

Texas Tech Health El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.

Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research.

With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,400 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.