Westmont Magazine Unveiling Westmont Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing

Westmont dedicated its new Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, naming it Westmont Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing in a ceremony October 14 at 26 W. Anapamu Street. David Grotenhuis, a 1963 alumnus of the college, and his wife, Anna, gave generously to the program, inspired by Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who died earlier that month.

The 16-month nursing program, housed in downtown Santa Barbara, has enrolled 28 students in its second semester. Cottage Hospital, just a few blocks away, has joined with the college to help overcome the region’s projected shortfall of nurses.

Gayle D. Beebe, president of Westmont, said he began considering the possibility of a nursing program after a conversation with Steven Fellows, former executive vice president and chief operating officer for Cottage Health, and his wife Denise, who has served on the Westmont Board of Advisors. 

“I believed the college was at a pivotal moment in its history and that we needed to begin considering projects that would benefit the community and increase our presence in downtown Santa Barbara,” Beebe said.

After mentioning the idea to Ridley-Tree, she committed to the project and arranged for a dinner with the Grotenhuises eight days later. “It was an invitation for them to say, ‘We love Cottage. We love Westmont, and we would love to be a part of this,’” Beebe said.

“We need nurses,” David said. “We’re just delighted to be able to help. It was an easy ‘yes.’”

“I’m so grateful we were able to do this,” Anna said. “We have to thank God that we’re able. But we wouldn’t be here without my dear friend Leslie.” 

At the dedication, officials unveiled the building sign with the new name. The 28 nursing students received loud applause as they entered the room, modeling scrubs with the college seal on patches surrounded by the words Westmont Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing.