West Virginia Wesleyan awarded $200,000 challenge grant - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

 West Virginia Wesleyan College received a $200,000 challenge grant from the Naylor Family Fund  to expand the Howard D. Naylor and Audrey Holden Naylor Nursing Simulation Lab, the college recently announced.

The grant challenges Wesleyan to raise an additional $100,000 and also will allow the college to move its simulation laboratory out into the community.

So far, Wesleyan has raised $30,000 but officials say they are optimistic about reaching their goal before the end of the fiscal year.

Once officials raise $100,000, the college will renovate 634 square-feet of classroom space into simulation laboratory experience. In addition, Wesleyan will add a clinical and simulation coordinator to develop the center, training curriculum and training to community health care professionals.

The college also will purchase simulation equipment and supplies to add pediatric and infant care to its curriculum.  

Wesleyan opened the Naylor Lab in 2010 after receiving a grant from the Naylor Family Fund.  The non-profit organization has also provided funding to Wesleyan for scholarships and training for faculty in the School of Education.

"We are extremely grateful to the Naylor Family Fund for their continued generosity," Wesleyan President Pamela Balch said in the news release.  "This grant will provide clinical training experiences for students in our School of Health Sciences and allow the College to serve health-care professionals throughout the region."