Nurses Get It Done

Mark and Melanie Matthys Announce Generous $50,000 Legacy Gift at Hunt School of Nursing’s Fall 2024 White Coat Ceremony

Gift and white coat ceremony empower students to overcome Borderplex nursing shortage

The Hunt School of Nursing’s newest cohort of students received a double-dose of inspiration while being welcomed into the health care profession this week.

On Tuesday, Aug. 27, Texas Tech Health El Paso’s nursing school held its Fall 2024 White Coat Ceremony, a significant event that both marked the entry of 68 new students into the school and celebrated a generous $50,000 legacy gift from Mark and Melanie Matthys. The Matthys family's contribution will be a vital tool in addressing the critical nurse shortage and advancing economic development within our Borderplex region for generations to come.

The couple said they believe in the power of education and the impact it can have on both individuals and the broader community. They hope their gift will support future health care leaders who will make a real difference in the lives of people in our region.

“Never underestimate the power of a small gift to do something big,” Mark Matthys said to the incoming students. “As the next batch of health care heroes, you play an important role. You’ll be there for life’s major events, including many of the most difficult ones.”

The white coat ceremony, a time-honored tradition, symbolizes the beginning of these students' journey in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program. This intensive 16-month program is the only of its kind in the region, and culminates in a nursing degree, which is specifically designed to meet the health care needs of underserved communities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

With 57 of the 68 students in the Fall 2024 cohort originating from the El Paso region, the program will cultivate local talent to care for residents in our Borderplex and beyond.

“Nurses are the heart and soul of health care,” said Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., president of Texas Tech Health El Paso. “Our mission is to empower them to become leaders in health care, particularly in our Borderplex region, where the need is greatest. The white coat ceremony is a pivotal moment in their journey, and the support from the Matthys family further strengthens our ability to provide a healthy future for our community.”

A critical gift

A key highlight of Tuesday’s white coat ceremony was the announcement of a $50,000 gift from Mark and Melanie Matthys. Mark Matthys, a Texas Tech University alumnus and commercial banking officer with Wells Fargo Bank, and his wife, Melanie, a University of Texas at El Paso alumna and technical project manager with Shared Assessments, have been long-standing supporters of our community.

The Matthys Family Scholarship Fund will have a lasting impact by providing vital resources to the Hunt School of Nursing and its students, which will benefit every future patient under their care.

“My brother was a nurse,” recalled Mark Matthys. “He wanted to be a doctor, became a nurse, had a long career there. His son is a doctor and got his training at the Foster School of Medicine. And so that definitely touched me in terms of the importance of the profession and just making sure that the path is open for people to pursue that career.”

Melanie Matthys expressed similar thoughts.

“Helping one person get through nursing school makes a huge difference,” Melanie Matthys said. “I had a scholarship. My kids had scholarships. It doesn’t matter what your financial situations is, college is still expensive, which is why it’s so difficult to finish. Here in El Paso, so many people have to work while they're going to school. It takes four years, six years, eight years to finish.”

Melanie said nurses have the ability to make a huge impact on every patient they see.

“I'm a big believer in, ‘If you can change one person's life, that's a huge thing,’” she said. “It’s the nurse that’s going to make those connections with patients. It’s the nurses that get things done.”

The Matthys family’s gift is part of a broader tradition of generosity within our community. Each year, numerous individuals and groups, many without direct ties to the university, sponsor the white coats given to the students. These donations are a powerful symbol of the community’s belief in and commitment to the next generation of health care professionals.

Leaving a legacy gift will help sustain and advance Texas Tech Health El Paso. They provide a stable source of long-term funding that allows the university to plan for the future confidently. Bequests leave a lasting impact, as donors can align their personal legacy with the institution's future, supporting generations of students to come.

Nurturing local talent

Each student received a white coat embroidered with the Hunt School of Nursing seal, representing the cloak of compassion and a reminder of the empathy required in their future roles as nurses.

For first-year nursing student Lauren Hernandez, it’s a dream come true.

“The white coat ceremony is an honor,” she said. “It symbolizes our pathway into the health care field and reminds us not to stop and to continue our career and our education. It reminds me that I did accomplish one of my dreams. I've made it this far, and it feels unreal!”

A native El Pasoan, Hernandez got a head start on her nursing career. She attended health-focused Silva Magnet High School. Her college prerequisite courses aligned with the Hunt School of Nursing.

The Hunt School of Nursing has been at the forefront of addressing the critical nurse shortage in the region. The school’s focus on recruiting and training local students ensures the majority of its graduates remain in the area to practice. To date, the school has graduated over 1,500 nurses, representing a 45% increase in the number of registered nurses serving the region since its inception.

First-year nursing student and mother of two Lianna Licon worked in health care as a dental assistant for 10 years. The white coat ceremony convinced her that nursing was in her future.

“I followed the Texas Tech Health El Paso nursing program on my social media platforms,” she recalled. “I saw all the students getting their white coats. I thought, ‘That’s an awesome ceremony.’ It will allow my family and friends to see the importance of my decision to become a nurse and that it’s really happening.”

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.