The Idaho State University School of Nursing received a very special scholarship from the Hirning family of Pocatello in December 2021. The $25,000 Hirning Family Excellence in Nursing Scholarship Endowment was awarded in honor of the late Claira Hirning who passed away in 2019. The endowment provides funds for nursing students at ISU’s Pocatello campus who are in need of financial educational assistance.

Kelly Hirning, his wife Kim and his father Art fondly recall the rich legacy left behind by Claira, who always treasured her time at nursing school.

“She graduated from Saint Anthony’s Catholic hospital when they had a nursing program in Pocatello. From here she moved to Twin Falls as a surgery nurse, and that’s where I met her” Art explains.

Claira later worked and volunteered as a nurse at several locations in Southeastern Idaho. Although Claira graduated with her degree in nursing in 1956, she remained an inspiration for other family members who pursued the same calling.

ISU roots run deep in the Hirning family. Kelly graduated from the College of Business and his brother Lane from the College of Pharmacy. Kelly and Kim’s daughter Ashley also graduated from ISU nursing program in 2019 and works as a Registered Nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise.

The School of Nursing is part of the College of Health, ISU’s largest college. College of Health Dean Teresa Conner, PT, PhD, MBA. says businesses and organizations like Hirning Buick GMC are critical in helping meet health care needs in Idaho. “We are so grateful for the funds contributed by this exceptional local business and the Hirning family,” Conner says. “Every dollar helps us meet our mission of improving and enhancing the health care workforce in Idaho.”

This is the second scholarship endowment of its kind sponsored by the Hirning family of Pocatello’s Hirning Buick GMC automotive dealership; they also provided a $25,000 scholarship endowment for students in the College of Business accounting program in 2020.