DayOne 2026

For more than 125 years, Montana Tech has prepared problem-solvers and community builders. Today, the Sherry Lesar School of Nursing is expanding its impact and helping meet the growing need for highly skilled nurses throughout Montana.

Growing to Meet Montana’s Needs

The Sherry Lesar School of Nursing has expanded its clinical cohort capacity from 30 to 40 students per semester—creating space for 10 additional future nurses in each cohort upon full implementation.

This growth is supported by the Lesar Family Nursing Simulation Center, where high-fidelity simulation and hands-on practice prepare students to provide excellent, compassionate care. Through realistic clinical scenarios, students build confidence, strengthen their decision-making skills, and prepare to serve patients and communities across Montana and beyond.

Direct Pathways for High-Achieving Montanans

The Scholar’s Edge Direct Entry Program provides high-achieving Montana high school students with direct entry into nursing upon successful completion of their prerequisites, eliminating the need to compete for placement in the clinical program.

Scholar’s Edge grew from five students in 2023 to 25 students in 2025 and continues to expand opportunities for future nurses to begin their education with a clear pathway toward their careers.

Why Your DayOne Gift Matters

As enrollment and opportunities grow, flexible funding allows the Sherry Lesar School of Nursing to respond quickly when students and faculty need support most.

Gifts to the Montana Tech Nursing Departmental Fund help the school:

* Respond to emerging opportunities and urgent needs with immediately accessible funding

* Equip laboratories and classrooms with essential simulation and clinical-skills equipment

* Provide emergency scholarship support to help students remain on track toward graduation

* Invest in faculty development, including expanded simulation certification

* Enhance instruction and strengthen students’ clinical readiness

Excellence in Nursing Education

The Sherry Lesar School of Nursing has been recognized as the top Registered Nursing Program in Montana by an independent study. The school remains committed to sustaining that tradition of excellence through innovation, mentorship, hands-on learning, and meaningful investment in students and faculty.

Double Your Impact

During DayOne Jack ’73 and Leah McCarthy will match gifts to the Montana Tech Nursing Departmental Fund dollar for dollar up to $5,000.

Your gift will go twice as far in providing flexible support for nursing students, faculty, classrooms, and laboratories—and ultimately for the patients and communities our graduates will serve.

Make Your DayOne Impact

A gift to the Montana Tech Nursing Departmental Fund is an investment in excellent nurses for Montana’s communities.

Please help extend the impact by sharing this project on social media, sending it to friends and colleagues, and inviting others to support Nursing at Montana Tech.

Thank you for investing in the next generation of nurses!