Charger Blue has a shade of green today, thanks to a donation from Bryant Bank.

Representatives of the bank’s Huntsville office visited the University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing and Athletics Department to make two donations in a total of $125,000.

Ken Watson, president of Bryant Bank Huntsville, presents a $25,000 gift to UAH Director of Athletics Cade Smith, left, and Mallie Hale, Vice President for University Advancement. (UAH Photo/Michael Mercier).

The UAH Charger Athletics program received an unrestricted gift of $25,000 that will go to support the 14 men’s and women’s programs.

“To get such a generous contribution during the pandemic is just truly unbelievable,” said Dr. Cade Smith, UAH Director of Athletics. “This is the second year in a row they have made this gift, and we were certainly blessed last year through their generosity as well.

“For this gift to come right now speaks volumes, and it is hard to put into words how grateful we are for Bryant Bank.”

The second donation was made to the UAH College of Nursing and was the annual $100,000 gift as part of a 30-year, $3 million partnership. Specifically, this pledge supports the bank’s continuing commitment to providing UAH College of Nursing students scholarships for Early Promotion into UAH Nursing Program.

“The UAH College of Nursing is so appreciative of the support Bryant Bank has shown us over the years and for continued support in the future,” said Dr. Marsha Howell Adams, dean and professor of the UAH College of Nursing. “This scholarship has had a major impact on the lives of our nursing students by promoting their ability to be successful in our nursing program.”

Established in 2014, EPNP is an honors program offered by the College of Nursing to highly qualified students who enter UAH as freshmen and declare nursing as their major. Through this program they may take all the lower division nursing coursework on the UAH campus and are guaranteed placement in upper division nursing courses.

“Today, we are very proud to provide a total of $125,000 in contributions to the UAH College of Nursing and athletics programs,” said Ken Watson, president of Bryant Bank of Huntsville. “Over the past seven years, the annual $100,000 donation has helped UAH recruit outstanding undergraduate nursing school students who are high achievers academically, but also very important members of our health care community upon graduation.

“We are also excited to again make this $25,000 donation to the athletics program to assist with the recruitment and development of its student-athletes and to promote its athletic programs … charge-on!”

(Top photo: Ken Watson, President of Bryant Bank Huntsville, presents $100,000 gift to UAH College of Nursing. (l-r) Associate Dean, Graduate programs Dr. Karen Frith; Ken Watson; College of Nursing Dean Marsha Howell Adams; Provost Christine Curtis; Associate Dean, Undergrarduate Programs Dr. Amy Lanz; and Vice President of Advancement Mallie Hale.)