USC Aiken School of Nursing receives $350,000 gift

AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – The University of South Carolina Aiken was gifted $350,000 from the estate of Henry Pickens Cato to support nursing students.

According to a press release sent on Aug. 13, the donation will be used to establish The Henry P. Cato and Lisa Jones Cato Endowed Scholarship Fund for Nursing, which will provide scholarships to full-time students in USC Aiken nursing programs.

“The endowment from Henry Pickens Cato will profoundly enhance our scholarship offerings, providing a perpetual source of essential financial assistance to our nursing students,” said Dr. Katie Chargualaf, dean of USCA’s School of Nursing. “This targeted support is designed to enable them to complete their education and in doing so, improve the health outcomes of individuals and communities.”

Cato passed away nearly two years ago on Aug. 16, 2022 after battling an illness. According to his estate, care from nurses helped ensure his well-being during his final years.

“The care provided for Henry by the nurses and medical support teams was invaluable to his quality of life,” said the co-trustees of Cato’s estate. “Providing an endowment for nursing scholarships in his revocable trust was the way Henry chose to recognize nurses who cared for him and to provide educational assistance for future nurses.”

The USC Aiken School of Nursing has plans to dedicate a classroom in the Alan B. Miller Nursing Building in honor of Cato’s legacy later this year.

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