Bryant Bank Investment Helps UAH Prepare North Alabama’s Next Generation of Nurses

The College of Nursing at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, has received support from Bryant Bank since 2014 through a $3 million pledge distributed over 30 years. The annual $100,000 gift funds the Bryant Bank Dean’s Scholars Program, which provides scholarships to Alabama freshmen who declare nursing as their major. The program also includes guaranteed acceptance into the College of Nursing for eligible students.

For Martin Nguyen, a fall 2025 graduate, Bryant Bank’s support made a huge difference.

“Being a Dean’s Scholar with the Bryant Bank Scholarship created a pathway for my college education,” he said. “As an honors student in the College of Nursing, I learned the value of curiosity, discipline and striving for excellence in everything that I do. The Bryant Bank Scholarship affirmed my hard work and lifted a financial weight that allowed me to focus on my goals. Starting my career in Huntsville after graduation is an honor, and it means everything to me because I get to stay in the city that shaped my journey.”

Dr. Karen Frith, outgoing dean of the College of Nursing, has witnessed the effects of Bryant Bank’s commitment, first as a professor of nursing, then as associate dean for undergraduate programs and associate dean for graduate programs before she assumed the deanship in 2021.

“The UAH College of Nursing is profoundly grateful to Bryant Bank for creating and sustaining the Dean’s Scholars Program for high achieving high school students from Alabama,” Frith said. “This annual gift allows intelligent and compassionate students to pursue their dreams of becoming nurses and to later serve their communities after graduation. I am proud to live in a community where such generosity creates an impact on the lives of students and the patients they serve.”

Frith retires from UAH this summer, and she knows she’s leaving the College of Nursing in a strong position thanks to supporters like Bryant Bank.

“Bryant Bank was built on the belief that investing in people is the highest form of community banking,” said Ken Watson, Bryant Bank, North Alabama Market President. “Our partnership with UAH’s College of Nursing reflects exactly that. When we support a nursing student’s education, we are investing in the health and future of our entire region. We are proud to play even a small role in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals right here in North Alabama.”

Bryant Bank’s investment couldn’t be happening at a better time.

“North Alabama is growing,” Watson said, “and the need for talented, compassionate healthcare professionals has never been greater. Our commitment to UAH’s College of Nursing is rooted in our belief that strong communities are built one person at a time. Watching Dean’s Scholars go on to serve this community is exactly the kind of return on investment that matters most to us.”

Bryant Bank Huntsville City President Mike Johnston appreciates this opportunity to further support our thriving communities.

“Huntsville is a city of innovators and achievers,” he noted, “and UAH’s College of Nursing students embody that spirit. It is a privilege for Bryant Bank to fund the Dean’s Scholars Program that is designed to keep talented Alabama students here, completing their education, building careers and serving our communities. Empowering potential through this program at UAH exemplifies what Bryant Bank is all about.”

Bryant Bank’s commitment to the College of Nursing is just one of the ways the bank supports UAH and its students. The bank has also made ongoing pledges to the College of Business and the Athletics department.

Paul W. Bryant Jr. founded Bryant Bank in 2005 with a vision to see every Alabamian experience a financially stable future and live in a thriving community. Bryant bankers put that kind of care into action to help Alabamians invest in their full potential every day. Bryant Bank operates 18 branches across Alabama, including two in Huntsville and one in Athens.