Friends and family celebrate Henry Cato with a classroom dedication in the Nursing building
Cato's family and wife, Lisa Cato (in the middle), stand alongside Chancellor Daniel Heimmerman (far right) and student speaker, Justice English (far left).
The University of South Carolina Aiken’s School of Nursing dedicated a classroom in the Alan B. Miller Nursing Building to honor the memory of the late Henry Pickens Cato.
Family and friends of Cato were all smiles as Dr. Katie Chargualaf, dean of the nursing school, made remarks during the dedication event.
Cato, a long-time advocate for quality education, believed in the power of helping people who wanted to better themselves. He passed away on Aug. 16, 2022, after battling an illness that left him spending many days, weeks and sometimes months in hospitals in his final years.
Back in August, USCA received a $350,000 legacy gift from the estate of Henry Pickens Cato to create an endowed scholarship to support future generations of nursing students. The scholarship is anticipated to assist five nursing students each year, with about $2,500 allocated to each recipient. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be eligible to receive the scholarship.
“A huge part of Henry’s personality was his generosity,” said Cato’s wife, Lisa. Both enjoyed success in real estate. Cato was also a board member of the Aiken Polo Club and an avid tennis player.
Lisa remembered a time when Cato was starting to lose his mobility and speech, leading to the decision to hire nurses for his assistance. “I remember we had to drive from Charlotte to Aiken and he was just getting out of his first rehab when he had lost his mobility and speech,” Lisa said. “I remember him telling me we didn’t need nurses at home but yet that’s the same man whose given these scholarships.”
“I feel like this scholarship and classroom dedication are remarkable,” said Justice English, a graduating senior majoring in nursing.
English had the privilege to speak in front of the Cato family during the classroom dedication. “This is a testament for someone like me. When I walk into that classroom you know that opportunities are endless. Starting in that room and ending there, it’s going to be a significant milestone for the School of Nursing.”
After graduating in December, English intends to remain in Georgia to attend law school, aspiring to become a attorney someday.
USCA Chancellor Daniel Heimmermann expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Cato for his generous and progressive support of nursing students' education.
For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.