Mayor proclaims June 1 as Margaret Pritchard University Day

Margaret Pritchard University in Jeonju, Republic of (South) Korea, sent this plaque to thank Kokomo Mayor Matt McKillip for recognizing the university’s 56th anniversary with a proclamation.

KOKOMO, Indiana—Kokomo Mayor Matt McKillip proclaimed June 1 as Margaret Pritchard University Day, honoring the 56th anniversary of the university and its ongoing educational exchange program with the Indiana University Kokomo School of Nursing.

Margaret Pritchard University, Jeonju, Republic of (South) Korea, was founded as the Jesus School of Nursing in 1950, and named for Margaret Pritchard, a Presbyterian missionary from the United States working in Jeonju.

Dr. Se Ung Lee, a South Korean businessman and philanthropist, provided the initial grant to start the exchange program in 2000.  Since then, both schools have sent dozens of nursing faculty members and students to each other’s campuses for stays of a few weeks to several months. The faculty members teach in their areas of expertise, while the students experience nursing courses and regional health care activities in a cross-cultural environment.

Two students, Jessica Beaupre and Brittney Brookshire, participated in the most recent exchange in May. They were accompanied by Associate Professor of Nursing Linda Wallace, Ed.D., R.N.; adjunct nursing faculty member Jackie Frank; and Linda’s husband, David Wallace, who directs equipment and vehicle maintenance for the City of Kokomo.

He represented Mayor McKillip and the city in accepting a commemorative plaque presented by MPU’s acting president Kim Kang Mi Ja, Ph.D., R.N. Now hanging in the mayor’s office, the plaque expressed thanks for the proclamation. It also acknowledged the community’s valuable support of the exchange program and its “vision of international understanding through education [about] American and Korean culture.”

The Kokomo Noon Rotary Club and IU Kokomo’s International Programs have provided partial funding for scholarships for exchange participants. Other major partners in the exchange include Howard Regional Health System, St. Vincent Health St. Joseph Hospital, and First Presbyterian Church of Kokomo.

For additional information on the program, contact the School of Nursing at (765) 455-9288 or (765) 455-9478.

Linda Wallace, left, and Kim Kang Mi Ja at Margaret Pritchard University