InterAct for Change and Deaconess Associations Foundation
Award Scholarships; Recognize Nursing Excellence
Twenty Local Nursing and Allied Health Students Receive Funding to Advance Careers;
Distinguished Nurses Honored
Cincinnati – May 13, 2015 – InterAct for Change and Deaconess Associations Foundation
today announced they have awarded scholarships to 15 local nursing students. Interact for
Change also presented the Nursing Excellence Award to two nurses demonstrating outstanding
contributions and Deaconess awarded additional scholarships to five allied health students.
“These scholarships assist nursing students enrolled at all touch points of nursing education
programs, whether just beginning their career or working towards future teaching positions,”
said Francie Wolgin, senior program officer at InterAct for Change. “The Greater Cincinnati
community relies on thousands of nurses each and every day who provide or influence nursing
care in schools, hospitals and other facilities throughout the region. In addition to funding further
development for these essential personnel, we also wanted to take the opportunity to recognize
the extraordinary contributions of two dedicated individuals.”
The Nursing Excellence Award honors individuals who demonstrate outstanding contributions to
nursing in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana. Susan Williamson, MSN, RN, IBCLC, Nurse Clinician
and Lactation Consultant, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and Amy Hall, DNP, RN,
Clinical Director, Pediatric Primary Care Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center,
will be the recipients for this eighth year of Nursing Excellence Awards.
Deaconess scholarships were established by the Deaconess Associations Foundation to benefit
undergraduate and graduate nursing students in a broad array of clinical and educational
disciplines, and allied health students.
“Deaconess has a rich legacy of strongly supporting local healthcare professionals throughout
our 127-year history,” said Tony Woods, chairman of Deaconess Associations, Inc. “In fact, the
Deaconess School of Nursing class of 1918 was the first to become registered nurses with the
State Medical Board of Ohio. We are pleased to support these students whose work has a
positive impact on quality of life for our community long into the future.”
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Interact for Change, Deaconess
Nursing Scholarships
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Deaconess scholarships winners are:
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Five Deaconess Associations Advanced Practice Nursing Scholarships
($10,000 each) were awarded to students enrolled in accredited masters or
doctorate programs in nursing. Scholarship winners include:
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Karen Burke, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
program, University of Cincinnati, School of Nursing
Adelaide Harris, Ph.D. program, Xavier University
Teaera Roland, Master of Science in Nursing student in the Family Nurse
Practitioner Program, Xavier University
Yuan Shang, MSN in the Adult Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
program, University of Cincinnati, College of Nursing
Tristen Yarborough, MSN program University of Cincinnati, College of
Nursing
Five Deaconess Associations Nursing Scholarships ($5,000 each) were
awarded to students enrolled in accredited associate or baccalaureate nursing
programs and to students with non-nursing BA or BS degrees enrolled in an
accredited program awarding an MSN. Winners are:
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Kristen Banks, Bachelor of Science program in Nursing, University
of Cincinnati
Meredith Bechtle, Master of Science in Nursing Direct Entry,
Xavier University
J Garrett Chunn, Bachelor of Science in Nursing,
Northern Kentucky University
Kadori Ngirabakunzi, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Northern
Kentucky University
Katharine Vincent, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Accelerated Pathway
Nursing Program, University of Cincinnati, School of Nursing
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Five Deaconess Associations Allied Health Scholarships ($5,000 each) were
awarded to students enrolled in accredited associate or baccalaureate programs to
become dental hygienists or pursuing a masters in social work. Winners are:
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Caitlyn Capek, Dental Hygiene program at University of Cincinnati,
Blue Ash
Alicia Ledford, Dental Hygiene program at University of Cincinnati,
Blue Ash
Amy Snow, Master of Social Work degree at the University of Cincinnati,
School of Social Work
Antoine Spriggs, Master of Social Work degree at the University of
Cincinnati, School of Social Work
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Interact for Change, Deaconess
Nursing Scholarships
Page 3
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Aimie Willhoite, Master of Social Work program at Northern
Kentucky University
The Deaconess School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship ($1,000) has been awarded
to Amanda Jennings, an outstanding student enrolled at Wright State University working
toward her Master of Science in Nursing in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. She
currently works in Same Day Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Interact for Change scholarships winners are:
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The Ida W. Casey Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) is named for the founding chair of
the Department of Nursing at Edgecliff College, now Xavier University. The scholarship
is awarded to a student enrolled in an accredited graduate degree nursing program. This
year's winner is Diana Wyrick, a faculty member of Wright State University currently
enrolled in its Masters of School Nursing program.
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The Anna M. Drake Scholarship ($2,000) is named for a public health nurse and
founder of District 8 (now known as the Southwestern Ohio Nurses Association) of the
Ohio Nurses Association. Miquita Carter has been named this year's recipient. An
employee of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Miquita is currently enrolled
in the Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences with a goal of obtaining her
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
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The Rose Hook Scholarship Fund ($2,000) honors a well-known Northern Kentucky
nurse who was the first board chair of Interact for Change, and is an emeritus director of
the Interact for Health board. Elizabeth Foltz, a student at Northern Kentucky University
working to obtain a degree in both nursing and American Sign Language, has been
named this year's winner.
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The Laura Rosnagle Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) recognizes the first Dean of
University of Cincinnati's College of Nursing and Health. The scholarship is awarded
annually to a registered nurse who is enrolled in an accredited Bachelor of Science in
Nursing or Master in Science Nursing completion program, or to an individual with a nonnursing BA or BS degree now enrolled in an accredited program awarding an MSN
degree. Nicole Richardson, currently enrolled in Good Samaritan College of Nursing and
Health Science’s BSN program, has been named this year’s recipient.
About Deaconess Associations Incorporated
Deaconess is a diversified, not-for-profit enterprise managing a portfolio of health services,
programs and investments. Through the Deaconess Associations Foundation, the organization
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also supports community grant initiatives in Greater Cincinnati and across the country. Learn
more about Deaconess and the Deaconess Foundation at www.deaconess-healthcare.com.
About InterAct for Change
A subsidiary of Interact for Health, InterAct for Change is a full-service 21st century philanthropic
organization that works with individuals, families, and private foundations that have a strong
desire to achieve measurable results through charitable giving and venture philanthropy. To
establish a new scholarship or to learn more about InterAct for Change, visit
www.interactforchange.org
About Interact for Health
Interact for Health improves the health of people in the Cincinnati region by being a catalyst for
health and wellness. We accomplish our mission by promoting healthy living through grants,
education, and policy. Interact for Health is an independent nonprofit that serves 20 counties in
Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. More information can be found at www.interactforhealth.org
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Contact:
Kate Keller
Vice President, Policy and External Relations
Interact for Health
513-458-6616
kkeller@interactforhealth.org
Greg Ebel
Consulting Executive Director
Deaconess Foundation
513.559.2168
Francie Wolgin
Senior Program Officer
InterAct for Change/Interact for Health
513-458-6612
fwolgin@interactforhealth.org