Davenport University and Mary Free Bed sign education partnership

Leaders from Davenport University and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation signed an agreement that provides scholarships to Mary Free Bed employees and their family members. The two organizations signed the agreement May 3 at Mary Free Bed.

The Mary Free Bed Corporate Education Scholarship Program offers up to $8,000 per year in scholarship funds to Mary Free Bed employees and up to $6,500 per year to members of their families.

The goal of Davenport's Corporate Education Scholarship Program is to allow organizations to invest in the growth of their employees and retain talent.

"Davenport University has a long history of partnering with top employers to invest in their most important asset - their employees," said Davenport University President Richard J. Pappas. "There's a talent shortage in Michigan, especially in health care, so it's critical for organizations like Mary Free Bed to grow talent from within. This scholarship program is designed to take the financial burden off working adults so they can continue their education at Davenport."

Scholarships available through the program are renewable for up to four years for Mary Free Bed employees and their family members.

"At Mary Free Bed, our staff truly are the heart and soul of our organization," said Kent Riddle, CEO of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation. "We're incredibly grateful for this partnership and the advanced education Davenport has to offer our team members. By empowering staff with opportunities to grow, we're also investing in outstanding care that restores hope and reignites the spirit of our patients."

Davenport has built flexible programs for adult learners to obtain advanced degrees or certificates in more than 80 areas. Classes can be in the evenings or online, and there are both 7-week and 15-week semesters.

Mary Free Bed employees and family members can also receive 20% off all publicly offered professional development programs through the university's Institute for Professional Excellence (IPEx).

Learn more about the Corporate Education Scholarship at Mary Free Bed by visiting: https://www.davenport.edu/MaryFreeBed.