New Scholarship Honors UNC Nursing Alumna

Posted on Dec. 11, 2006

A new scholarship has been created at the School of Nursing in memory of Pamela McClure Wichmann ’99 (MSN), a 40-year veteran nurse who died in October.

Wichmann was a nurse practitioner at Kernersville Family Practice in Kernersville, where she served as a clinical preceptor, supervising nurse practitioner students. In 2005, Wichmann was recognized by School of Nursing faculty as Preceptor of the Year for her ability to teach the art of blending nursing and medical skills and for serving as an outstanding role model.

The Pamela McClure Wichmann Memorial Scholarship was created with a gift of $50,000 from Wichmann’s husband, Bernard Anthony Wichmann, to honor her career as a nurse practitioner and clinical preceptor. The scholarship endowment creates a fund available in perpetuity for students pursuing master of science degrees in nursing with an advance practice concentration in women’s and/or family health. The first $2,500 scholarship will be awarded in August 2007.

Wichmann’s nursing career began more than 40 years ago, when she graduated with an associate degree in nursing from Purdue University. She received a bachelor’s degree from Winston-Salem State University, graduating with honors, before completing her master’s degree in 1999 at UNC. Wichmann died in an automobile accident on Oct. 31.

“Pamela’s life work in nursing and education will live in perpetuity through this endowed scholarship fund,” said Norma Hawthorne, director of advancement for the nursing school. “Pamela was a dedicated nurse who was compassionate, considerate, caring, respectful and unselfish. This scholarship fund will help future students to develop the expertise to provide excellent, quality care for patients through graduate education, just like Pam did.”

The School of Nursing was established in 1950 in response to the overwhelming need for nurses in North Carolina. It was the first nursing school in the state to offer a four-year bachelor’s degree (1950); offer a master’s degree in nursing (1955); initiate continuing education for nurses (1964); offer a doctorate in nursing (1989); and offer an accelerated bachelor’s degree option for second-degree students (2001).

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