Scotland Memorial Hospital has received a check from the Cannon Foundation of Concord for $100,000 to expand the education department of the organization.

The process began when hospital Director of Staff Development Greg Stanley was a student in a master's program earlier this year at UNC-Pembroke, where he realized a way to assist both his academic career and his employer.

"I had a senior graduate project I needed to do to satisfy a requirement in the master's of public administration program at UNC-Pembroke," Stanley said. "I decided to apply for a grant for the hospital, and I found the opportunity to do so through the Cannon Foundation."

Stanley, who worked on the grant application during his final semester of the program, learned of the grant's approval in his final week of classes.

"I am very happy this grant was approved, and for the opportunity that now exists to consolidate the education department into one location," Stanley said. "There is a 4000 square foot brick building on campus that will become the new department headquarters; renovations to the building will begin within the next 60 days, and should be completed in six months."

Steve Wallace, executive director of the Scotland Memorial Foundation, was "thrilled" that the educational department received the grant.

"One of the joys of this job is matching grant funding with hospital needs; this is an excellent example of how this works."

Scotland Health Care System board of trustees member Charles Jenkins also expressed his support for Stanley's accomplishment.

"We have a great partnership between UNC-Pembroke, Scotland Memorial Hospital, and the health care community," Jenkins said. "I am very excited to be here today to support Greg and the fine work he has done."

Now director of cardiopulmonary, neurology, and respiratory at Scotland Memorial Hospital, Stanley is grateful that his efforts have borne fruition.

"It was really a group effort," Stanley said. "I had a great deal of assistance from Dr. Dan Barbee, director of the Master of Public Administration program at UNC-Pembroke, from Pam Hudson, grant writer for the Scotland Foundation, and from others. I am grateful that the grant was approved, and I hope the new location is of great benefit to many."

The Cannon Foundation was established in 1943 by the late Charles A. Cannon, president and chairman of the Cannon Mills Company for more than 50 years.