Donors for this year's Nursing Honors Day program at National Park College helped provide $68,000 in scholarship awards.
The program was held Thursday afternoon in the Dr. Martin Eisele Auditorium of the Frederick M. Dierks Center for Nursing and Health Sciences.
"Today is not only about students' achievements in earning these scholarships, but it is mostly -- and I say that in all sincerity -- about the donors, about their contributions to this college and, specifically, to the division of nursing," said Janice Ivers, dean of nursing.
"We all learn from each other's past experiences and we all learn from our students every day. We learn from the adversity and the hurdles they encounter while they are in the program and we look at their past -- what happened to them, where were they and where did they come from?"
Ivers applauded the work of the students to receive the scholarships.
"We really do know a lot about our students in both programs," Ivers said. "We live and breathe with them because nursing school is just that. It is a school that is a family that comes together. We have one goal and that goal is to raise and mold our future nursing leaders."
Many past faculty and staff members presented awards, as well as former students. Ivers said many of the alumni donors received scholarships to help them through the program.
"It was not about the money," Ivers said. "It was about that vote of confidence. It was about that boost of energy it gave them to continue that someone does care about them."
Nursing students to receive two awards during the program were:
• Lavonda Evans was presented the Class of 2016 PN Scholarship and a scholarship from the Loyal Ladies of the Garland County Extension in memory of Paula Chandler.
• Harlie Felton received the Castaldi Scholarship and a scholarship from the Women's Welcome Club.
• Hannah Fox was awarded a Rowe Family Endowment Scholarship and a scholarship from the Women's Welcome Club.
• Scotti Gerhardt was conferred the Nightingale Honor Award and a Nightingale Scholarship.
• Roberta Lenard garnered a Dr. Martin Eisele Nursing Scholarship and the Tina Crawford Angel Wings Scholarship.
• Gabrielle McGarry received a Rowe Family Endowment Scholarship and a scholarship from the Women's Welcome Club.
• Christon Rowland was presented the Frederick M. Dierks Nursing Scholarship and a scholarship from the Women's Welcome Club.
• Bobbi Songer was named the recipient of the Blunt/Welch Caring Scholarship and the Suzan Davis Scholarship for Clinical Excellence.
• Robert Thacker received the Charley Tanner "Heart of a Nurse" scholarship and a scholarship from the South Hot Springs Lions Club.
• Kayla Thompson was presented a Nightingale Honor Award and a PN "Spirit" scholarship.
• Ashleigh Wiggins received an IHC Independence Healthcare Inc. Professionalism Award and a scholarship from Diana's Dollars.
Ines Ramirez Santiago received a scholarship from the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was severely injured two years ago in an automobile accident in which her brother, Jaime, was killed.
The accident occurred shortly before the Oaklawn Foundation announced its scholarships for 2015-16, which included both as recipients. They were both accepted into the nursing program at National Park College.
Ines Santiago returned to school for the fall semester. The Oaklawn Foundation provided her with the scholarship funds previously designated for her brother, along with her own award.
The foundation recognized the Ramirez Santiago family with a memorial gift of $6,000 donated to the nursing program. Faculty and staff determined the recipients of scholarships provided by the donation.
Students presented awards during the program included:
• Andrea Barker received a Dr. Martin Eisele Nursing Scholarship.
• Felicia Beasley received the Charlotte Phelps Nursing Scholarship.
• Denise Bettis, received a Keep Calm and Study On scholarship.
• Brandie Bryant received the Tina Crawford Angel Wings Scholarship.
• Heather Carter received the Joseph Brown Nursing Scholarship.
• Trista Cheney received the Larry Max Wehunt Memorial Nursing Scholarship.
• Candace Coffman received Olds Foundation Scholarship.
• Lania Colton received a Rex V. McMahan Family Scholarship.
• Tabita Crossley received a scholarship from Diana's Dollars.
• Nicholas Cullen received a scholarship from the South Hot Springs Lions Club.
• Laikin Davi received a scholarship from the Women's Welcome Club.
• Erica DeFoor received a Hot Springs Oaklawn Lions club Nursing Scholarship.
• Claudia Diaz received the Geraldine Zachery Memorial Nursing Scholarship.
• Olivia Diaz received the Evelyn Hilliard "Second Chance" scholarship presented by the John Percifull Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
• Deidra Dobbs received Inspire to be the Best Scholarship.
• Rebecca Echols received a scholarship from the PEO DC Chapter "Program for Continuing Education."
• Mary Estell received a Women of the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship.
• Lindsey Evans received a Nursing Divisional Scholarship.
• Sade Foreman received a Women of the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship.
• Amanda Friedl received the Fishing for your License scholarship.
• Jayla Gaines received the Dora Jane Ledgerwood Ellis Scholarship.
• Mercedes Garcia-Lopez received the Charley Tanner "Heart of a Nurse" scholarship.
• Garrett Garner received the Patty's "Final Steps" Scholarship.
• Brigittee Goslee received an Evelyn Hilliard Memorial Scholarship presented by the John Percifull Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
• Haley Hairston received a Hot Springs Village Loan Closet Scholarship.
• Jacob Hefley received the James "Jimmy Jones Memorial Scholarship.
• Kelicia Highsmith received a Dr. Martin Eisele Nursing Scholarship.
• Hannah Hollingsworth received the Andrea LaPaglia Hamby Loving Heart Memorial Scholarship.
• Justin Hollis received a scholarship from the South Hot Springs Lions Club.
• Alexis Jessup received the Andrea LaPaglia Hamby Loving Heart Memorial Scholarship.
• Alexis Johnson received a Rex V. McMahan Family Scholarship.
• Jamie Keppert received a Nursing Divisional Scholarship.
• Michael Kouetcha received a scholarship from the Loyal Ladies of the Garland County Extension in memory of Paula Chandler.
• Julie Lawhorn received the Gary Deckard "Gentle Giant" Memorial Scholarship.
• Linda Lee received the Marlene Stafford Recognition Award.
• Lindsay Leggett received the St. Joseph Nurses Alumni Association Scholarship.
• Brandy Lopez received the PEO CH Chapter Nursing Scholarship.
• Kim Marks received a scholarship from the Christ of the Hills Methodist Women.
• Corbin McCormick received the Robbie and Jay Hays Memorial Scholarship.
• Alyssa McDonald received a Women of the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship.
• Suzanne McNary received a Rex V. McMahan Family Scholarship.
• Zoe Meeks received the Garry G. Newman "Pay It Forward" scholarship.
• James Miles received the C. Dale Whitman scholarship.
• Doris Millward received the PEO BJ Chapter Nursing Scholarship.
• Alice Moll received an Evelyn Hilliard Memorial Scholarship presented by the John Percifull Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
• Dustin Moore received a Nightingale Scholarship.
• Kaylin Murphy received a PEO AP Chapter Nursing Scholarship.
• Dylan Patton received a Women of the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship.
• Seth Perry received a Keep Calm and Study On scholarship.
• Kim Phillips received a scholarship from the PEO DC Chapter "Program for Continuing Education."
• Molly Poirier received the Caring Hearts Scholarship in memory of Ray Cevela and in honor of Arlene Cevela.
• Hannah Powell received the Fawnda Broach and "Friends" Memorial Scholarship.
• Sarah Prince received a scholarship from the Christ of the Hills Methodist Women.
• Josie Scheer received a Women of the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship.
• Darian Sims received a scholarship from the Women's Welcome Club.
• Alexis Smallwood received a Rex V. McMahan Family Scholarship.
• Teresa Weaver received a PN "Spirit" scholarship.
• Lacie Williams received an IHC Independence Healthcare Inc. Professionalism Award.
• Annette Wilmoth received a scholarship from Altrusa International of Hot Springs Village.
• Misty Wilson received the Elisabeth Wagner Nursing Scholarship.
• James Winters received the Tina Crawford Angel Wings Scholarship.
• Laura Woodall received a Rex V. McMahan Family Scholarship.
• Monalisa Wright received a Rex V. McMahan Family Scholarship.
Local on 04/23/2017