After the pandemic prevented National Park College from hosting its annual Nursing and Health Sciences Honors Day last year, NPC held the event in virtual fashion this year, awarding more than $76,000 in scholarships to nursing and health sciences students on Thursday.
"Not having Honors Day last year due to the pandemic was heartbreaking," Janice Ivers, dean of Nursing and Health Sciences, said in a news release. "This year we hosted our first and hopefully our last virtual honors day. In spite of the pandemic, we persevered in providing a memorable event to honor our amazing students and acknowledge our awesome donors."
A total of 97 scholarships and awards were presented to students from community organizations and private donors, many of whom are alumni of NPC programs.
The event included NPC's nursing and allied health programs including Registered Nursing, Licensed Practical Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Medical Laboratory Technology, Health Information Technology, and Emergency Medical Services -- EMT and Paramedic, the release said.
"Each year, many nursing and health sciences graduates choose to give back to their profession in the form of scholarships. Ivers said she hopes that seeing other graduates and donors provide scholarships will inspire our current students to give back once they graduate," it said.
"NPC's outstanding faculty, administration and clinical partners help support students, but donors play a very important role by not only assisting the student financially but mentally as well. I believe the scholarship award gives students a vote of confidence and the encouragement they need to persevere," Ivers said.
Scholarships awarded included the following:
• Olds Foundation Scholarship -- Jaide Vavra.
• Charlotte Phelps Nursing Scholarship -- Karin Owens.
• The Garrison Laudell Dollar Scholarship -- Nikeya Adams, Gabrielle Brashears and Diana Samuels.
• Lee and Brenda Richardson Endowed Nursing Scholarship -- Traci Spencer.
• Fawnda Broach and Friends Memorial Scholarship -- Makyla Thornberry.
• Hot Springs Women's Welcome Club -- Kristin Couch, Mandie McArty, Christy Beene, Susan Byers, Amy Hughes and Makyla Thornberry.
• Caring Hearts Nursing Scholarship -- Marzeah Rayburn.
• St. Joseph's School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship -- Lauren Weatherford.
• C. Dale Whitman Nursing Scholarship -- Israel Barragan.
• Frederick M. Dierks Nursing Scholarship -- Mandie McArty.
• Inspire to be the Best Nursing Scholarship -- Erin Brasel.
• Castaldi Scholarship -- Brandon Perry.
• T.L. and Irene Core Memorial Scholarship for Health Sciences -- Dustin Warner (Respiratory).
• Gay Garner Simmons Scholarship -- Laken Robinson.
• Dr. Martin Eisele Nursing Scholarship -- RN students Amy Hughes, Stephanie Hughes and Katelyn Freeman; Respiratory, Jessica Fox.
• South Hot Springs Lions Club -- Susan Byers, Kaylin Hopper and Alexa Prestridge.
• Rex V. McMahan Family Scholarship -- Taylor Wells, Mariah Liegel.
• Altrusa International of Hot Springs Village -- Nova Pakulak, Allisyn Potter.
• Nightingale Scholarship -- Alexis Lynch.
• PEO AP Chapter -- Candace Horton-Davis, Deanna McHenry.
• Suzan Davis Scholarship for Clinical Excellence -- Sharon Langston.
• Bernard Nugent Endowed Scholarship -- Morgan Rodriquez.
• Evelyn Hilliard Memorial Scholarship -- LaCresha Sims (RN).
• Evelyn Hilliard Second Chance -- Carrie Phelps.
• Diana's Dollars -- Lauren Pearson, Jamie White.
• Dora Jane Ledgerwood Ellis -- Kathleen Keough.
• Ginger and Rustin Burns -- Andrea Mogovan.
• Jan Grasse Nursing -- Ashley Cox.
• Elisabeth Wagner Nursing -- Sharon Langston (RN).
• Elisabeth Wagner Health Science -- Anna Estes (HIT).
• Frank Buys Memorial Health Science -- Joseph Puthenkalatil (Respiratory).
• Women of First Presbyterian Church -- Katileena Anderson, Lexi Smith, Stephanie Lea and Chloe Chavez.
• Geraldine Zachery Nursing Memorial Scholarship -- Emily Garcia.
• Jackson Nursing -- Nova Pakulak.
• Vinh Bui Hero Scholarship -- Ali Meeks (RN), Makyla Thornberry (RN).
• James Olmedo Family Nursing Scholarship -- LaCresha Sims.
• Joseph C. Brown Memorial Scholarship -- Marzeah Rayburn.
• Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Hot Springs Village Book Scholarship -- Ligia Velcherean (Respiratory).
• The Tina Crawford Angel Wings Scholarship -- Randi Payne, Stacie Spickard and Ben Valentine.
• Larry Max Wehunt -- Jacob Stoker.
• M.R. Springer Radiography Scholarship -- Lexie Singer.
• Teresa J. Buck Memorial Scholarship -- Cheryl Sliger, Kara Mann.
• PEO CH Chapter Scholarship -- Damson Juarez.
• Professional Achievement in Respiratory Care Scholarship awarded by the Lawrence Respiratory Foundation -- Raelee Perry, Sarah Furgerson.
• Relda Steelman Memorial Nursing Scholarship -- Austin Morphew.
• Loyal Ladies of the Garland County Extension Office -- Katera West.
• PN Spirit Scholarship -- Rheagan Heird, Lindsey Powers.
• The Jimmy Jones Memorial Scholarship -- Kallin Jo Watson.
• Rowe Family Scholarship -- Jaiden Fortenberry.
• Hot Springs Village Loan Closet Scholarship -- Whitney Livingston, Michelle Nagode.
• Make it Better PN Scholarship -- Rachel Lappin, Diana Samuel, James Russell Godwin Sr. and Allisyn Potter.
• Gail Louise Pratt Nursing Endowment -- Devin Brown, Brittany deSomer.
• Wencel Nursing -- Hannah Kriigel, Megan Reid.
• Wencel Health Science -- Kristen Sangster.
• Oaklawn Lions -- Brittany Wagner.
• Christ the Hills Methodist Women PN Nursing Scholarship -- Sara Blakely, Martina Clegg, Rheagan Heird and Vanessa Ortiz.
• Larry Davis Rad Tech Scholarship -- Wesley Nooner.
• Leontine Hecker Scholarship -- Sydney Guzman.
• Barbara Jeanne Sheets Scholarship -- Whitney Livingston.
• Professionalism Award IHC Supply Scrubs Independence Healthcare -- Railey Nolan (RN), Brittany Mayberry (PN) and Halen Smiley (Paramedic).
• Nightingale Honor Award -- Amy Elder, Diana Samuel.