DR. STELLA BLACK HAS BEEN PART OF TRU’S NURSING’S STORY FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND NEW ALUM TESS RUSSELL IS CONTINUNING HER LEGACY. Together, they represent a bridge between the school’s roots and its future.
Black was involved when the nursing school at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) transitioned to the School of Nursing at Cariboo College, now Thompson Rivers University (TRU). As a member of the Nursing Program Advisory Committee, she helped ensure the program served both the students and the community well.
In May 2025, she was there as TRU Nursing celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first graduating class.
“Between Royal Inland Hospital and TRU, we’ve had a nursing program in this city for 120 years,” she said. “It’s remarkable.”
A lot has changed since those graduates crossed the stage. From a three-year diploma to a comprehensive degree program with pathways to graduate studies, TRU Nursing has evolved in scope and sophistication. Yet, its core values—compassion, critical thinking and service to community—remain unchanged—all attributes embodied by Russell, 2025 valedictorian of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program and multiple award recipient.
“I remember how tough it was to work and excel academically, so I want to help others have the opportunity to pursue an education, too.”
– Stella Black
Now working as a public health nurse in Kamloops, Russell’s years at TRU were marked by extensive involvement. She initiated the Nursing Peer Mentor program, co-ordinated study nights, served as the official delegate for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association and much more.
“Tess is an incredible human, and I am so grateful to have worked with her in various capacities over the past four years,” said Maggie Shamro, School of Nursing faculty member. “She has the unique ability to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities while also maintaining a kind, genuine and humble presence.”
That blend of leadership and service echoes Black’s legacy. From being a key member of the advisory committee in the 1970s to supporting student-athletes at the 2025 TRU WolfPack’s Back the ‘Pack Night, Black has been a valued friend and a force for good at TRU, smoothing the way to success for ambitious students across faculties. When she retired from her 43-year career at RIH, in lieu of personal gifts, the Dr. Stella Black Scholarship endowment fund was established and grew quickly thanks to generous contributions by colleagues and staff from RIH. Black continues to add to the fund annually and since then, 15 students have benefited from her generosity.
“I’ve always believed in the value of education as it was a priority value that my mother instilled,” said Black, adding that she remembers how challenging it was balancing finances and school as a young university student. “I remember how tough it was to work and excel academically, so I want to help others have the opportunity to pursue an education, too.”
A nurse, administrator, donor and prolific volunteer, Black’s influence extends far beyond the nursing faculty. She served on the boards of Cariboo College and University College of the Cariboo, supported the institution’s evolution from college to university college and then to full university, helped create the first campus plan, and was instrumental in launching fundraising initiatives like the Foundation Gala that continue to support students today. In 2003, she was awarded an honorary doctorate degree for her service to TRU, and in 2016, she received the TRU Foundation Lifetime Dedication Award.
Today, her legacy lives on in graduates like Russell, a single mother who began her nursing journey during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. After being laid off from her job, she pivoted toward health care, driven by a long-standing passion for helping others.
Once she was accepted into the nursing program, she never looked back, but balancing academics, parenting and volunteerism wasn’t easy. Financial awards and bursaries, made possible by donor generosity, played a crucial role.
“They took a lot of pressure off, which allowed me to focus on my studies and stay involved in the community,” she said, adding that she is also endlessly grateful for her circle of support.
As she addressed a packed audience and roomful of fellow graduates at convocation, Russell thanked her son, her parents, her classmates and her instructors, opening her valedictory speech with these words:
“What an incredible day. We made it. The class of 2025. And not just any graduating class, but one that marks the 50th anniversary of the Thompson Rivers University School of Nursing. For half a century, this program has shaped generations of nurses. Today, we don’t just cross this stage—we step into a legacy. It is inspiring, it is meaningful and it is surreal to think we are now a part of this history.”
