When Charles and Clara Jackson established the Clara Haack R.N. Scholarship in 2017, they wanted to open doors for future generations of nurses. What began as a heartfelt tribute has grown into a powerful investment in rural healthcare and student success at Northwestern.
Charles and Clara have continued to nurture the fund, believing deeply in its purpose. In 2025, Charles added nearly three quarters of a million dollars to the endowment, marking a transformational moment in the scholarship’s history and ensuring its impact for decades to come.
Charles created the scholarship in honor of his wife, Clara Haack Jackson, whose lifelong commitment to nursing began at a young age.
“From the time I started taking care of my baby dolls as a child, I knew I wanted to be a nurse,” Clara shared.
Although Northwestern did not offer a nursing program when she attended, Clara’s passion never faded. After earning her degree in home economics with a minor in business in 1964, she later returned to school in Oklahoma City and completed her registered nursing degree from St. Anthony’s School of Nursing in 1972.
Clara went on to serve as a staff nurse in medical surgical oncology units for 13 years. She then served with the Texas Medical Foundation, where she reviewed Medicare and Medicaid charts across Dallas-area hospitals. Her career was marked by compassion, precision and a dedication to improving patient care. She eventually took early retirement to spend cherished time in Oregon with their daughter, Michelle, and their three grandsons.
Charles’ own path was shaped by service. After graduating from Northwestern in 1963 with a degree in history, he earned a Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City in 1972. His career took him into public health services and later into the for-profit hospital industry, where he worked until retiring in 2004.
Together, Charles and Clara built a life defined by hard work, gratitude and a shared belief in the importance of education. Clara fondly remembers her years at Northwestern.
“I had a wonderful time at Northwestern. I enjoyed my entire four years there.” She recalled working in the cafeteria to help pay for her tuition. Some of her coursework transferred toward her nursing degree at St. Anthony’s, helping her progress more quickly toward her goal.
When Charles revealed he intended to establish a scholarship in her honor, Clara was deeply moved.
“I knew he was going to create a scholarship,” she said. “I just had no idea it was going to be in my honor.”
Their scholarship supports students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, helping ensure Northwestern continues producing skilled and compassionate rural nurses, something deeply important to both Charles and Clara. Growing up in Laverne, Okla., Clara understands firsthand the challenges of rural healthcare access.
“Many rural communities need qualified healthcare workers, and Northwestern plays a key role in preparing nurses to meet that need,” Charles said.
The scholarship has already made a meaningful impact on Northwestern students and will continue to do so.
Bailey Bragg, a 2023 Northwestern graduate and a recipient of the Clara Haack Scholarship, says the scholarship made a major impact on her journey.
“While pursuing my nursing degree, I also had two young children at home to care for,” said Bragg. “The financial assistance made a substantial difference. It made the process smoother and allowed me to focus on graduating without worrying about how I would pay for school afterward.”
Bragg is now at Stillwater Medical Center in Stillwater, Okla., where she works as a medical nursing administrator.
As a testament to the couple’s enduring generosity, to date the Clara Haack R.N. Scholarship endowment is the second largest nursing scholarship in Northwestern history. Their commitment to giving extends beyond Northwestern. Charles and Clara also established a scholarship for their local high school tennis team in Coppell Texas, reflecting another passion they enjoy together.
“The Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing is very thankful for the continued generosity of Charles and Clara Jackson,” said Dr. Leslie Collins, Chair, Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing. “Their substantial gifts have and will continue to aid nursing students in obtaining their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, while decreasing their financial concerns. This allows students to focus on their studies and ensure they are well-prepared professionals.”
Their story is a reminder that a single act of generosity can grow into something remarkable: changing lives, strengthening communities, and inspiring others to dream bigger.
“We want to continue the legacy of improving the lives of students,” Charles said. Through their scholarship, they are doing exactly that.