Supporting Nursing Students

Although Rose Wagner did not attend Salve Regina University, her daughter Victoria is a proud 2011 graduate. Wagner has always had a fondness for Salve, which was strengthened when the University supported her family through a challenging period. A retired nurse, Wagner was caring for her husband David, who was sick, and Salve arranged for a car so Victoria could drive home on weekends to see her family.

Following the example of her uncle – an “extreme philanthropist” who left legacy gifts to support scholarships at two different schools – Wagner intends to do the same through her estate plan. To honor David, who died in 2008, she has arranged a future gift to the University of Vermont, where he received his master’s degree. “I wanted to do the same thing for nursing, and what better place than Salve,” Wagner said. “They have an excellent nursing program that I have followed since it started.”

It was a family decision, including her son Joshua, to support education. “I want to help people, especially first-generation students, attend college,” Wagner said. “My family taught us to be community oriented and to help those in this world who need it.”  

Wagner encourages others to consider how they can support future Seahawks. “What can you do and give to others?” she asked. “I am of modest means, but this is such an important, moral thing to do in society today because costs are prohibitive. If we want people to be educated – to be smart and develop skills for the future – we need to help them in their journey.”