Circleville, OH: On May 8th, OhioHealth Berger Hospital welcomed dozens of nurses, alongside hospital and community leaders, to commemorate National Nurses Week with a special breakfast event. The gathering not only celebrated the invaluable contributions of nurses but also honored excellence in healthcare delivery through scholarships and awards.
In a heartwarming gesture, Berger Hospital bestowed scholarships totaling $16,000 upon 24 deserving nurses during the event. These scholarships were made possible by various philanthropic sources, including the Schmidlapp Nursing Education Fund and the OhioHealth Berger Hospital Medical Staff. Additionally, the OhioHealth Foundation, with support from individual community members and OhioHealth associates, sustains the Berger Hospital Nursing Excellence Fund.
Among the recipients were eleven nurses who were awarded scholarships from the Jack W. McGuire Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund. Established in 2021, this fund has seen remarkable growth thanks to contributions from McGuire’s family, friends, and the Community United Methodist Church. A generous donor also bequeathed a gift to create the Jack McGuire Endowed Nursing Scholarship, providing enduring support to nurses at Berger Hospital.
The scholarship recipients, including individuals such as Kaci Amann, Jessica Bickley, and Dakota Scarberry, expressed their gratitude for the financial assistance, acknowledging the significance of these awards in supporting their educational pursuits.
Stephine Starling, a Registered Nurse at OhioHealth Wound Care, shared her appreciation for being selected as a scholarship recipient, emphasizing how it eases the financial burden for working mothers like herself who are enrolled in full-time college programs. Starling is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Colorado Technical University.
Moreover, the event honored six individuals and departments with awards recognizing their outstanding contributions to healthcare. Dr. Evan Wong, the Berger Hospital Environmental Services Department, and healthcare professionals such as Stephani Adams, Emma Dane, Nate Marcella, and Tabby Smith were among the recipients.
Gretchen Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer at Berger Hospital, expressed her admiration for the dedication, compassion, and expertise demonstrated by nurses on a daily basis. She highlighted nurses as the heartbeat of the hospital and underscored the institution’s commitment to supporting their growth and development.
For those interested in contributing to Berger Hospital nursing and healthcare worker scholarships through charitable donations, Tara Gilts can be contacted at [email protected] or (740) 566.4539.
