WINTERVILLE— Though she passed away nine years ago, Susan Butler’s passion for preparing skilled nurses continues to be reflected in a Pitt Community College Foundation scholarship bearing her name.
Butler, a longtime clinical nurse specialist who also served as a nursing clinical instructor at PCC and Beaufort County Community College, was dedicated to seeing students succeed and do things the right way. Friend and nursing colleague Sylvia James said that if Butler were alive today, she would be making rounds and reminding nurses to keep their whiteboards up to date — a reflection of her belief in doing the right thing every time.
“One thing for sure, Sue was passionate about watching others grow in the nursing field,” James said after the scholarship was established in 2017. “She loved being a nursing instructor and the students loved her.”
During the 2026-27 academic year, the Sue Butler Memorial Nursing Scholarship is providing financial support to Erick Magana, a first-generation college student enrolled in PCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program. Magana credits his resilience for helping him balance rigorous nursing coursework, clinical studies and leadership responsibilities while maintaining high standards of care.
On track to graduate in spring 2027, Magana chose PCC because of its reputation within the health care community for producing highly competent, well-prepared nursing professionals. His passion for patient safety, advocacy and clinical judgment drew him to nursing, and he hopes to begin his career in a clinical nursing role focused on providing high-quality patient care.
Beyond the classroom, Magana has taken on a leadership role. He serves as secretary of the PCC Association of Nursing Students, where balancing his academic and leadership responsibilities has strengthened his communication and time-management skills. In the long term, he hopes to pursue leadership opportunities in nursing and contribute to professional organizations that advocate for patients and the nursing profession.
For Magana, the scholarship provides more than financial assistance. By helping offset the cost of tuition and textbooks, it allows him to focus more fully on his clinical rotations, coursework and leadership responsibilities as he prepares for a career in nursing.
“Your belief in my potential motivates me to work even harder to achieve these milestones,” Magana wrote in a note of appreciation for his scholarship.
Through students like Magana, the Sue Butler Memorial Nursing Scholarship continues the work that meant so much to its namesake — helping prepare nurses who are committed to learning, leadership and providing high-quality care.