Both Michelle Council and Regina Roat grew up in North Florida and have strong family ties to FSU. “I’ve been a lifelong fan and supporter,” Michelle says. “Both of my parents are FSU grads.” Her mom, a College of Nursing grad, was passionate about education and mentorship. “I never considered going anywhere else.” Regina adds. “My mom and older sister are graduates, and their experience at FSU inspired me to follow their path.” To ensure the FSU College of Nursing remains the gold standard in nursing education for future generations, the couple first established the Lucy Campbell Council Endowed Scholarship in Nursing after Michelle’s mother’s passing in 2015. They will further support the fund with planned gifts—through a bequest and IRA beneficiary designations. "After witnessing the impact of this scholarship over the past decade, we decided to establish the Council-Roat Innovation Fund for the FSU College of Nursing,” Michelle says. “This fund is aimed at providing the most current and advanced nursing educational resources and to raise the bar for health care in an underserved area of Florida.” Regina credits much of her success to her FSU education, and she wants to ensure that the same high-quality education is available for future generations as well. “I became a successful professional because of the great education FSU provided,” she says. “I passionately believe that education is key in achieving personal and professional goals, and I want to provide a path to these opportunities for future students.” The couple encourages others to join them in creating a legacy in their estate to support future FSU students. “It brings tears to our eyes when we receive the thank you letters from the scholarship recipients because it validates that we are making a difference,” Michelle concludes. “We are honored to donate a portion of what we’ve worked so hard for to those who are making lasting, positive changes for this world.” Back © Pentera, Inc. Planned giving content. All rights reserved. Disclaimer