Laurel Ridge Community College’s Nursing Program was a logical choice when the Monford D. and Lucy L. Custer Foundation was considering making a donation, according to Foundation President Linda Russell.
After all, the Custers – Russell’s late parents – were heavily involved in the medical community and philanthropic endeavors in the Winchester area. The Monford D. and Lucy L. Custer Endowed Nursing Scholarship, established in 2005, is part of their legacy.
Dr. Custer worked at Winchester Memorial Hospital and was instrumental in establishing the Winchester Surgical Clinic, as well as the free medical clinic, now called Sinclair Health Clinic. A U.S. Army Medical Corps veteran during World War II, he also volunteered on the hospital ship, S.S. Hope.
“I come from a very philanthropic family and a long history of medical professionals in the family, going back to my great-grandfather,” said Russell, who added numerous other relatives are or were in the medical field. “So, it was easy for us to think about a nursing scholarship. We are very, very dedicated to the field of nursing. The scholarship is supported by all of my family and extended family.
“We were very fortunate growing up in my family. My parents set good examples for philanthropy and for being leaders. “
Russell was an operating room technician, what is now called a surgical technologist, in Seattle and Richmond before spending the final 27 years of her career with Winchester Women’s Specialists. She said her father was instrumental in getting the operating room technician program started at the hospital.
“We are pretty committed to Laurel Ridge,” said Russell, adding two of her grandchildren attended the college. “I’m all about the philosophy of Laurel Ridge. It’s just an easy school to fall in love with. I really like the community college mission.”
Establishing the nursing scholarship was an easy decision for her foundation.
“Laurel Ridge has so many different scholarships and places of interest to give money to different causes and talents,” Russell said.
Among the Laurel Ridge nursing graduates who have benefited from the Monford D. and Lucy L. Custer Endowed Nursing Scholarship are Shannon Weisbrodt and Donna Kelley.
2020 graduate Weisbrodt is a mother of five, and worried she had neither the time nor the money to attend college, but after attending a nursing information session, her passion was “rekindled.” She has gone on to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing and works in the oncology department at INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital.
“I get to do my part to alleviate human suffering every night I work,” said Weisbrodt, who was the commencement speaker in 2020.
Kelley, was the 2021 recipient of the Grisdale Family Veterans Fund Award for Outstanding Veteran Student and the Outstanding Nursing Graduate Award for the Middletown Campus. She is about to begin her bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and hopes to become a nurse practitioner.
Learn how you can support Laurel Ridge students and programs with a donation to the Laurel Ridge Educational Foundation by visiting laurelridge.edu/donate.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.