DANVILLE, Va. (June 7, 2019) — Averett University and LifeSpire of Virginia today launched the first-ever educational partnership for LifeSpire.
Averett University President Dr. Tiffany M. Franks and LifeSpire of Virginia’s CEO Jonathan Cook signed an agreement that includes a three-pronged partnership between the school and LifeSpire’s continuing care retirement communities.
The partnership allows employees of LifeSpire to earn their degree at Averett with scholarships awarded by Averett, LifeSpire residents to attend college-level lectures right where they live and Averett students to serve as interns at LifeSpire.
“LifeSpire and Averett University both value and encourage lifelong learning, a commitment to intellectual growth throughout one’s entire lifetime,” said Dr. Franks. “We hope that LifeSpire employees and its residents will be excited about the opportunity to become a part of the Averett University family. This wonderful partnership builds upon our shared mission and values as members of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. LifeSpire employees automatically will qualify for Averett scholarships once they meet admissions criteria. For each undergraduate course taken, Averett will award a $250 scholarship and a $350 scholarship for each graduate course taken.”
In addition, Averett will offer residents of LifeSpire communities the option of attending Averett University lectures and courses at home – right in their own community – beginning at Lakewood, LifeSpire’s campus in Richmond’s west end, and expanding to LifeSpire’s other communities in Culpeper, Daleville, and Newport News. The program will launch in the Fall of 2019 and LifeSpire residents will be able to choose from classes in religion, communications and criminal justice/sociology.
Averett students also will benefit directly from this partnership, with exciting opportunities to intern at LifeSpire in the areas of business, communications and accounting.
“We are excited to partner with Averett to offer these opportunities,” Cook said. “We want to do all we can to promote personal and professional growth among our residents and staff. This partnership helps us achieve that vision.”
###
About Averett University
Since 1859, Averett University has grown and developed into a dynamic institution that serves students of all ages, offering more than 30 undergraduate majors, minors and special programs, along with five graduate programs with a number of concentrations. Dedicated to preparing students to serve and lead as catalysts for positive change, the University’s historic main campus is embedded in the heart of Southern Virginia with regional campuses throughout Virginia and online. Averett enrolls a diverse student body, and boasts an alumni network that spans the globe.
About LifeSpire
LifeSpire of Virginia operates four continuing care retirement communities and one continuing care at home program in Virginia: The Culpeper in Culpeper, The Glebe in Daleville, The Chesapeake in Newport News and Lakewood and Lakewood at Home in Richmond. For 70 years, LifeSpire has provided compassionate, quality care to senior adults in a faith-based environment.
