Bright Future

Inaugural Kevin and Amy Tomblin Memorial Nursing Scholarship Sparks Bright Futures at Texas Tech Health El Paso

El Paso Electric CEO Kelly Tomblin surprises two Hunt School of Nursing students

Accepting an invitation to dine with Texas Tech Health El Paso’s president can pay big dividends. Just ask Marissa Ramser of El Paso and Gabriela Estrada of Horizon City.

At a luncheon hosted by President Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., and attended by the two Hunt School of Nursing students, the university announced the creation of the inaugural Kevin and Amy Tomblin Memorial Nursing Scholarship, generously created by a $15,000 gift from Kelly Tomblin, president and CEO of El Paso Electric (EPE), with a matching gift from The Electric Company Charitable Foundation, doubling its impact.

Named to honor Tomblin’s late brother and sister, the Kevin and Amy Tomblin Memorial Nursing Scholarship aims to illuminate a path for nursing students transitioning into careers in this vital field.

Tomblin’s recent personal gift exemplifies her belief in paying it forward. Since moving to the region in 2020 to lead EPE, Tomblin has made it a priority to consistently give back to the community she serves.

“Growing up in rural West Virginia, higher education seemed out of reach,” Tomblin said. “One gift from someone I never met lit up my future and allowed me to attend law school. My family benefited from help, allowing my brother and sister to attend school. There's a promise in giving. The real power in life is giving when you can because somebody gave to you. It changed the trajectory of our lives.”

Kelly Tomblin, a long-standing supporter of Texas Tech Health El Paso and a member of the President’s Development Council since 2021, knows the transformative potential of scholarships. She shared her experiences with Ramser and Estrada.

Both Ramser and Estrada were surprised to learn they would be the first recipients of this meaningful scholarship.

“When the scholarship was announced, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, working hard and getting through these classes does pay off,’” said Ramser. Born and raised in El Paso, Ramser is a first-generation college student. Her parents lived in Ciudad Juárez before moving to the U.S. Following graduation from Austin High School, she attended the University of Texas at Austin.

It would be another three years after earning a bachelor’s degree before she decided to become a nurse. Now, she sits on the cusp of fulfilling her dream, thanks to Kelly Tomblin.

“I only have five months left,” Ramser said. “When I graduate, I hope to take my nursing exam immediately to get that ‘B.S.N., R.N.’ after my name and get a job here in El Paso and give back to our Borderplex community.”

Estrada went into accounting after graduating from Horizon High School. However, growing up in Horizon City, she observed many residents who needed help had no access to health care. After deciding a desk job was not for her, she enrolled at El Paso Community College to take prerequisite nursing courses and applied to the Hunt School of Nursing.

The surprise of being awarded a scholarship only reinforced the decision to enter nursing.

“I truly believe that many people need a little boost to help them achieve what seems so far out of reach,” said Estrada, who is in her second semester. “This gift has inspired me to be generous, too.”

Students like Ramser and Estrada use their scholarships to open the door to high-income careers like nursing. By alleviating expenses, scholarships empower individuals to achieve their academic and professional goals and change the trajectory of their lives and the lives of their families. As graduates enter the workforce, they contribute valuable skills and innovation, driving economic development in our community.

“Kelly Tomblin's generous gift is a testament to the power of education and community support,” said Dr. Lange. “This scholarship not only honors the memory of Kevin and Amy Tomblin but also addresses the pressing need for more health care professionals in our Borderplex region. The generosity of our friends ensures we are meeting those demands, as well as making a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our community.”

The Kevin and Amy Tomblin Memorial Nursing Scholarship is a testament to their mother’s belief in the value of service. Georgia Tomblin retired from Man Appalachian Regional Hospital in West Virginia and encouraged her children to pursue careers in health care.

Thomas Kevin Tomblin, Kelly Tomblin’s brother, found his calling as a nurse later in life after a successful career in the restaurant industry. He passed away in 2018 but left a legacy of compassion and dedication to health care. Amy Lynn Tomblin started her career as an R.N., earned her medical degree in 2007, and practiced medicine in Charleston, West Virginia, before passing in 2023.

Kelly Tomblin’s past generosity includes sponsoring white coats presented to first-year medical and nursing students and establishing scholarships targeting first-generation medical and nursing students with financial needs and a strong work ethic to serve their community.

The Kevin and Amy Tomblin Memorial Nursing Scholarship goes beyond tackling our region’s critical nurse shortage. By growing our future nursing heroes, Texas Tech Health El Paso is also improving the long-term health and well-being of those residing in our Borderplex region.

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.