David Pyle Honored with ‘Friend of Nursing’ Award from Association of California Nurse Leaders

Every year at its annual luncheon, the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) present special awards where members nominate and a committee selects recipients. At this year’s event, the ACNL honored David Pyle, Executive Chairman of the Board of West Coast University, with a Friend of Nursing award, which is “awarded to an individual or organization demonstrating significant contributions and support for the nursing profession.”

Mr. Pyle was nominated by WCU Dean of Nursing, Dr. Robyn Nelson, who is a longtime ACNL member. In her nomination she wrote “For more than three decades, David Pyle has been a leader and innovator in the private, postsecondary education community. As passionate about the community as he is about education, David is a renowned philanthropist who is especially supportive of health care and education programs that aid underserved and at-risk children and families. He seeks to inspire and strengthen the organizations he supports and the individuals they serve. Drawing on his personal commitment to education and health care, David targets his giving to programs that increase access to quality health care and create educational opportunities for the underserved.”

The luncheon was held in Monterey, CA during the ACNL annual conference. Mr. Pyle dedicated the award to students and faculty, saying “I want to thank ACNL for this recognition. It is truly an honor to be here today. Empowering our nursing students to become leaders is the foundation of what we do at West Coast University, American Career College and Contemporary Forums. Our goal is not simply to train students with technical skills – it is also to teach compassion and a sense of community, which I believe are fundamental to the field of nursing. In addition to the philanthropic efforts I have undertaken as leader, our faculty and students conduct thousands and thousands of volunteer hours every year at events that focus on building healthy communities. I’d like to dedicate this Friend of Nursing Award to all of them.”

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In all the years I have known David, he has never wavered one iota in his passion and commitment in providing exceptional learning opportunities for students. His genuine interest in the success of students has guided the mission of American Career College and West Coast University. In my book, David Pyle is a winner. To this day, I am honored to be associated with him personally.

MARK HACKEN, Retired Health Care Executive
Board of Trustees, West Coast University

As a result of David Pyle’s generosity and compassion, KidWorks is able to reach greater numbers of Santa Ana’s at-risk children and families. David shares our belief that hope is a powerful force that can change lives and help children and families fulfill their dreams of a better life. From our staff, to our board of directors, to the children and families whose lives he helps transform, David has our heartfelt appreciation.

AVA STEAFFENS, President/CEO
KidWorks

I met Mr. Pyle in the summer of 2011, when I had the opportunity to attend WCU’s amazing international studies program at the University of Oxford. I was impressed with the way he went out of his way to meet and get to know the WCU students. Obviously he has a lot of responsibilities to juggle, but he genuinely sought us out and wanted our feedback. It’s clear that he truly cares about students, and that’s reflected in the quality of the programs and campuses WCU offers.

SARA ROCHA, 2011 BSN Graduate
West Coast University

Augie Nieto is a long-time friend of David Pyle. In 2005, Augie was diagnosed with ALS, and he founded Augie’s Quest shortly thereafter. The intention of Augie’s Quest is to raise awareness and fund research for a cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Pyle and Peter Ueberroth, President of the 1984 Summer Olympics, were recently honored by for their support of ALS research. At the annual Tradition of Hope Gala in 2011, Pyle received the Humanitarian Award and Ueberroth received the Robert Ross Founders Award.