DCHF announces 2024 Health Careers Scholarship recipients

Daviess Community Hospital Foundation has announced the recipients of the Annual Heath Careers Scholarships. Seven area students were recognized for their academic accomplishments and awarded scholarships totaling $13,250 from the Health Careers Scholarship Fund. One student received a $1,000 scholarship from the DCH Auxiliary. The Daviess Community Hospital Foundation also awarded one nursing student $750 from the Helen Arthur Memorial Scholarship for Nursing.

Since the beginning of the scholarship program, 207 recipients have received $233,350 in Health Career Scholarship awards from the DCH Foundation. Students from Daviess, Martin, and Pike Counties as well as employees and dependents of Daviess Community Hospital attending accredited educational institutions pursuing health care fields of study are eligible to apply.

Committee members Alicia Fields, DNP; Gina Wagler, Donna Keller, Jordan Sherman, and Marilyn McCullough were pleased with the caliber of applications this year. “There were so many great applications this year,” said Alicia Fields, Committee Chairperson. “We are grateful to be able to give out these scholarships to such deserving students.”

Audrey Jerger has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of the Daviess Community Hospital Auxiliary. Audrey is the daughter of Jeremy and Jennifer Jerger. She is a member of the 2024 graduating class at Washington Catholic High School. Audrey plans to pursue a degree in Nursing at the University of Southern Indiana.

Allyson Gross has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Daviess Community Hospital Foundation. Allyson is the daughter of Aaron and Jamie Gross. She is a member of the 2023 graduating class at Washington High School. Allyson continues to pursue a Nursing degree at the University of Southern Indiana.

Leah Ellermann has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Daviess Community Hospital Foundation. Leah is the daughter of Cody and Erica Ellermann. She is a member of the 2022 graduating class at South Knox High School. Leah continues to pursue a degree in Applied Medicine/Pre Physician Assistant from Indiana State University.

Sydney Swartzentruber has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Daviess Community Hospital Foundation. Sydney is the daughter of Tim and Krista Swartzentruber. She is a member of the 2023 graduating class at Barr-Reeve High School. Sydney is currently pursuing a degree in Nursing at the University of Southern Indiana.

Chelsie Sutton has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Daviess Community Hospital Foundation. Chelsie is the daughter of Mark and Andrea Sutton. She is a member of the 2020 graduating class at Loogootee High School. Chelsie continues to pursue a degree in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences at the University of Southern Indiana.

Maggie Burks has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Daviess Community Hospital Foundation. Maggie is the daughter of Christopher and Jill Burks. She is a member of the 2019 graduating class at Washington Catholic High School. Maggie continues to pursue a degree in Speech Pathology at the Ball State University.

Ashlyn Kane has been awarded a $750 scholarship from the Daviess Community Hospital Foundation. Ashlyn is the daughter of Eric Kane and the late Amanda Kane. She is a member of the 2024 graduating class at Washington High School. Ashlyn plans to pursue a degree in Psychology at the University of Louisville,

Kennedy Sinnott has been awarded a $750 Helen Arthur Memorial Scholarship from the Daviess Community Hospital Foundation. Kennedy is the daughter of Pat and Tara Sinnott. She is a member of the 2024 graduating class at Barr-Reeve High School. Kennedy is pursuing a degree in Nursing at the University of Southern Indiana.

The Helen Arthur Memorial Scholarship Award honors Helen Arthur, a local resident who was unable to fulfill her desire to become a nurse after contracting tuberculosis. The scholarship recognizes the women of Omega Alpha Chi, a local homemaker’s group, who in 1954 established and named a Helen Arthur Memorial Educational Loan Fund for students pursuing medical careers. In 2006, the group gifted the balance of the fund to the DCH Foundation to support the scholarship program. Miss Arthur’s family continues to support this scholarship.

In collaboration with Daviess Community Hospital, the DCH Foundation has awarded the first DCH Nursing Scholarship in the amount of $5,000 to Amber Gerkin, RN, from Vincennes, Indiana. Amber is currently serving as an extern in the DCH Emergency Department and enrolled at Vincennes University.

This scholarship is a unique opportunity for nursing students going into their final year of nursing education. The scholarship is intended to support future nursing professionals as they achieve their educational objectives, nursing licensure and career goals nursing at Daviess Community Hospital. The funds are payable to the individual recipient. As a part of the scholarship, the future nursing professional must sign an agreement to remain employed at Daviess Community Hospital as a Registered Nurse in a direct patient care area full time for a period of two (2) years.

To learn more about the Daviess Community Hospital Foundation Scholarship program, please contact Angie Steiner at 812-254-8858 or email asteiner@dchosp.org.