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- calendar_today October 13, 2026
Miracle Riders Establish New Endowment for CSU Nursing School
In a continued commitment to advancing healthcare education, the Miracle Riders have announced the creation of a new $150,000 endowment to benefit the Columbus State University (CSU) School of Nursing. This initiative comes just one year after fulfilling a significant $1 million fundraising milestone for the university. The new fund aims to support maintenance and ongoing technology improvements for the nursing program’s clinical simulation labs.
Supporting Clinical Simulation Labs Through Endowment
The endowment is designated to fund upgrades and maintenance for the three clinical simulation labs established through the Miracle Riders’ previous fundraising activities. The labs, which serve as essential training facilities for nursing students, were created with proceeds from four cross-country fundraising motorcycle rides. These rides took Miracle Riders’ participants to every state across the country, raising crucial funds for Columbus State University's healthcare education programs.
Announcement and Stewardship by Community Foundation
Scott Ressmeyer, founder of the Miracle Ride, formally announced the new endowment at the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley. Since 2015, the Foundation has accepted donations on behalf of the Miracle Riders and will be responsible for holding and managing the endowment fund.
“As we grew close to meeting our $1 million goal, we started thinking about how we could continue to support Columbus State’s School of Nursing,” Ressmeyer stated. “This endowment fund seemed like the perfect way to do that, while ensuring CSU’s nursing students continue to have access to this state-of-the-art clinical training environment.”
A History of Impact Through Motorcycle Rides
The Miracle Riders announced in 2021 their intention to donate up to $1 million from their annual rides to create pediatric-focused clinical simulation labs at CSU. The 2022 ride funded lifelike robotic mannequins and technology enhancements for a new pediatric simulation lab. The following year, similar resources were directed to a mother-baby simulation lab. By 2024 and 2025, the efforts expanded to include a neonatal simulation lab. These facilities have provided opportunities for practicing nurses, first responders, and other healthcare providers to train and mentor CSU nursing students, supporting experiential learning and collaborative education.
Enhancing Experiential Learning and Healthcare Preparation
Dr. Stuart Rayfield, president of Columbus State University, highlighted the role of the endowment in enhancing experiential learning. “The Miracle Riders’ enduring support continues to make state-of-the-art robotic technology a degree and career differentiator for our nursing students. This extraordinary investment enhances our experiential learning environment and reinforces our standing as an innovative regional leader in healthcare preparation.”
Dr. Margie Yates, dean of the College of Education & Health Professions, emphasized the value of simulation labs, stating, “These labs and the opportunity for our students to train on robotic simulators are game changers for our nursing programs. They have become essential to building our students’ confidence in their bedside and patient-care skills before they begin hospital-based clinical rotations.”
Endowment Coverage and Long-Term Benefits
Officials noted that the new endowment will cover ongoing maintenance and upgrades for the robotic mannequins, simulation software, durable medical equipment, and accessories in the nursing simulation labs. It will also fund the preservation and replacement of custom Miracle Rider murals in the lab spaces. By ensuring continued functionality and modernization of these facilities, the endowment contributes to the sustainability of high-quality, hands-on learning experiences for CSU nursing students and the broader healthcare community.
Source: wrbl.com.
