Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences, in cooperation with The Blessing Foundation, has awarded $1,200,000 in scholarships and grants to Blessing-Rieman students for the 2021-2022 academic year. Forty-nine students received money from 39 endowed scholarships, 5 scholarships that are not endowed, and one general financial aid fund.
Five students received funds from the Charles M. and Dorothy Briggs Scholarship Award. The Briggs were residents of Brown County, IL. Briggs scholars include Camryn Current, Quincy, IL; Emrielle Griesbaum, Palmyra, MO; Megan Grimm, Morrill, KS; Lori Leathers, Cairo, MO; and Brianne Shaffer, Ursa, IL.
Katie Harness, Sutter, IL, was awarded the Virgil E. Kendrick Scholarship. Mr. Kendrick was a farmer in Timewell, IL, and the eldest son of John J. and Arlene Kendrick. He passed away at age 33, never having married or had children. An anonymous donor never wanted him forgotten and established this scholarship in Virgil’s name. The scholarship is to benefit one student annually, with first preference given to students meeting the criteria who live in the Illinois counties of Brown, Schuyler, Morgan or Scott.
Emily Rehagen, St. Charles, MO, earned the Mary Lou (Groves) Tuttle Scholarship. Tuttle was a 1938 graduate of the Blessing School of Nursing. She passed away in January 2004.
Two students received the Blessing Volunteers in Partnership (BVIP) Scholarship. The award is given, in part, for demonstrated value in volunteerism. The students who earned this scholarship are Charlotte Horman and Tanya Moore, both of Quincy, IL.
Erin Miller of Quincy, IL, received the Olive Billbe Jurgens & Cara R. Schwartz Scholarship. Billbe Jurgens was the aunt of Pam Brown, former President/Chief Executive Officer, Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing, and was instrumental in encouraging Dr. Brown to pursue higher education and nursing as a career. She was the oldest of 12 children, raised during the Great Depression era, and was the first in her family to complete high school and the only child to pursue formal education. Billbe Jurgens passed away in 2007. Cara Schwartz was the niece of Dr. Brown. Cara had gone on from graduating from Mount Zion High School to attending Richland Community College, in Decatur, John Wood Community College and Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing, both in Quincy. Cara passed away in January of 2011 following a courageous battle with cancer. Dr. Brown established a scholarship in her memory in August of 2015, and the two scholarships were merged in 2018.
Isabella Jarvis, Rockport, IL, received the Brad and Bonnie Billings Scholarship. Brad Billings retired in September 2014 as President/Chief Executive Officer, Blessing Corporate Services, with 33 years of service to Blessing. His wife Bonnie is known for her participation in the arts, particularly Quincy Community Theater.
Madison Moore, Pittsfield, IL, received the Jack D. Huff Scholarship. Huff, who passed away in 2006, was a well-known Quincy area insurance executive.
Bridget O’Bryan, Quincy, IL, received the Bill and Zig Brown Scholarship. Zig Brown served Blessing for 42 years, beginning as a staff nurse and retiring as Human Resources Vice President for Blessing Corporate Services. The scholarship was established in memory of her husband, Bill Brown.
Paige Willer, Quincy, IL, received the Lawrence L. Swearingen Scholarship, named in honor of the man who led Blessing Hospital for 33 years. Swearingen retired as Blessing President/Chief Executive Officer in May 2005. The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate strong personal character, leadership and self-reliance.
Esther Lunt, Quincy, IL, who attended Quincy Notre Dame High School, received the Frances Waterkotte Scholarship. Preference is given to Quincy Notre Dame High School graduates first; Quincy High School graduates second, followed by a graduate of any high school in the area.
Stephanie Dolan, Canton, MO, received the Marilyn Murphy Shepherd Scholarship. Shepherd, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, was a graduate of Blessing Hospital School of Nursing and a faculty member of the College. Dr. Shepherd passed away in 2017. The scholarship was established by Shepherd in 2008 in the memory of her parents, Ralph and Jean Murphy.
Lara Pence, Dallas City, IL, received the Blessing Nurses Alumni Association Scholarship award. The Blessing Nurses Alumni Association has a long history of providing scholarship support for nursing students enrolled in Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and earlier programs. The establishment of this scholarship was a further commitment by the Blessing Nurses Alumni Association to recognize above average academic achievement and foster the availability of nursing education.
Kayla Roszkiewicz, Addison, IL, earned the Dr. James and Dorothy Rouner Scholarship. The late Dr. Rouner served Quincy area patients for 54 years in general practice and was a founder of the Physicians & Surgeons Clinic.
Kayli Harshman, Barry, IL, received the Dr. Kent W. Barber Memorial Scholarship. Dr. Barber helped found The Quincy Clinic, which when merged with Physicians & Surgeons Clinic became known as Quincy Medical Group. Dr. Barber was a general surgeon who practiced in Quincy for 52 years.
Marcus Argana, Desoto, MO, received the Nona L. Knight Young Scholarship. Knight Young, of Clayton, was a 1958 graduate of the Blessing Hospital School of Nursing.
Ashley McCarter, Griggsville, IL, received the Ellen Kuhn Phelps and Col Fred Phelps Nursing Scholarship. Mrs. Phelps is a native of Payson and worked at Blessing Hospital at various times during her 46-year nursing career. Prior to being called to active duty in the United States Army Nurse Corps and serving around the world, Col Phelps was an instructor at the Blessing Hospital School of Nursing, the forerunner of Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing.
Amanda Gebheim, Las Vegas, NV, received the Elmer and Lola Orth Scholarship established by the Orth estate of Clark County, MO, in April 1991.
Jazzlynn Holman, Edina, MO, earned the James R. Forrest Memorial Scholarship. It was established in memory of Forrest, a Blessing-Rieman Class of 1978 graduate, by his mother, June Forrest.
Kathleen Sidwell, Pittsfield, IL, earned the Stan L. Bartley, MD, FAAFP, FACEP, Scholarship for Master of Science in Nursing degree students. Dr. Bartley served patients as a family practitioner at the former Physicians and Surgeons Clinic, Quincy, from 1969-1978. He then joined the Blessing Hospital Emergency Room Medical Staff and worked there until his retirement in 2002.
Chloe Turner, Edwardsville, IL, earned the Dr. Peter and Mary Leffman Scholarship. Dr. Leffman was a long-time Quincy otolaryngologist, retiring in 1997. He and his wife remained active for many years of their retirement in hospital and community projects.
Alyssa Grimm, Maryville, IL, received the Leta Faye Mitchell Munson Scholarship. A Hannibal native, Mitchell Munson was a 1955 graduate of the Blessing Hospital School of Nursing and spent most of her career in northern Delaware. She passed away in 2010.
Sara Pate, Pevely, MO, received a Paul H. and Anne B. Gardner Memorial Scholarship. It was established in 1988 to be awarded to a nursing student who exhibited leadership in Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing’s Student Nurse Organization.
Dimple Patel, Quincy, IL, received the Shay L. Bartley Drummond, BSN, RN Scholarship. Drummond, the mother of three, worked as a certified surgical technologist at Blessing Hospital before continuing her education at Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing. She graduated in May 2007 and joined the Adams County Health Department in Quincy.
Carson Churchwell, Palmyra, MO, was selected for the Fessenden Family Scholarship. Dr. Corrine Fessenden was a Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing Associate Professor for more than 20 years. She earned her Master Degree in Nursing from the University of Missouri-Columbia; and her Doctorate from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Juliann Heck, Quincy, IL, received the Carol Carter Scholarship. This award was begun by Bob G. Carter in memory of his wife and in honor of the years of care the Pittsfield couple received at Blessing Hospital.
Sarah Luther, Oak Creek, WI, was awarded the Dr. Newton and Ruth DuPuy Nursing Scholarship. Dr. DuPuy began his medical career in Quincy in 1946 as an obstetrician/gynecologist. He retired in 1984. Over this 50-year career he delivered more than 10,000 babies, was chief of staff at Blessing Hospital, and chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Blessing and St. Mary Hospitals.
Stephanie Seidelman, Barry, IL, was awarded a scholarship from the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing General Financial Aid Fund.
Gabriele Brooks, Donnellson, IA, and Alexis Giffin, Quincy, IL, received funds from the Lucille B. Rieman Scholarship Award. The Rieman scholarship recognizes full time students who demonstrate above average academic achievement and participate in college and community activities, and is for whom the college is named.
Zoe Swift, Brighton, IL, received the Blessing-Rieman General Endowment Fund scholarship.
Lindsay Parker, Clayton, IL, received funds from the Lauretta M. Eno Nursing Scholarship. Eno served as Director of Nursing, Director of Nursing Education, and Assistant Administrator over a 23-year career at Blessing Hospital.
Laikean James, Hannibal, MO, received the Elizabeth R. Keys Scholarship. The scholarship was established by the late Dr. E. Hayden and Katie Keys in memory of Dr. Keys’ mother, who was a nurse.
Abbigale Daughtery, New London, MO, and Jessica Olson, Quincy, IL, were awarded the Candice Rae Barker Leeper Scholarship. Leeper was born on August 2, 1946 in Sioux City Iowa. She was an assistant professor for 23 years at Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and passed away in 2014.
Christie Settles, Eldred, IL, received the Dr. Robert and Shirley Murphy Scholarship. Dr. Murphy practiced internal medicine in Quincy for 37 years.
Britini Bailey, Brighton, CO, received the Tayna Scott Kyer Memorial Scholarship. This fund was established by Kyer’s husband, Steve, and their two children after her death at the age of 34 in 1993. Kyer worked for many years as a nurse in Blessing Hospital’s Critical Care Area.
Jennifer Goings, Quincy, IL, earned the Marian Milligan Scholarship, recognizing a student who demonstrates outstanding professional nursing characteristics.
Stephanie Seidelman, Barry, IL, received the Dick and Carole Scranton Scholarship. Carole Scranton, a graduate of the Blessing Hospital School of Nursing, was the first Certified Critical Care Nurse at Blessing Hospital. She passed away in 2006. This scholarship fund was renamed in honor of the passing of Carole’s husband, Dick, in December 2008.
Charlotte Horman, Quincy, IL, received the Dr. Carl W. and Jane Hagler Scholarship award. Dr. Hagler joined the former Physician & Surgeon’s Clinic in Quincy in 1946. In 1963, he was selected to chair the Adams County Medical Society’s Polio immunization project. The project’s goal was to immunize every Adams and Pike County, IL, resident over two months old against polio. Dr. Hagler passed away in 1977.
Emilee Autry, St. Louis, MO, received the Major Constance Beck Hash Scholarship named after the native of Quincy who attended the Blessing Hospital School of Nursing in 1943, graduating in 1945. She was a nurse in the United States Air Force for 20 years. Major Hash died in 2008. The scholarship in her honor is available to veterans of the United States Air Force, Army, Navy or Marine Corps; or a child or grandchild of a veteran.
The Lucille V. Stuffing Scholarship was awarded to Jenna Disseler of Quincy, IL. Stuffing, of Ursa, worked at Blessing Hospital for 30 years as a nurse’s aide. She passed away in 2012 at the age of 91.
Alexandria Scott, Kansas City, MO, was awarded the Trautvetter Family Scholarship. The scholarship was created in memory of Lynne Virginia Trautvetter who passed away at her home in Arlington, Virginia in December, 2015. She had earned her RN-BSN degree from Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing. This family scholarship is named in honor of Lynne and her four aunts: Virginia Linquist Trautvetter, RN, Naomi Trautvetter Jingst, RN, Doris Trautvetter Snider, RN, and Delma Jean Trautvetter Hardy, RN.
Amber (Kayley) Bailey, Quincy, IL, received the Lundberg Family Scholarship. The scholarship is a memorial to the long history of farming in the Lundberg family. Two of Carl R. Lundberg’s daughters, Carol and Barbara, are nurses who graduated from the nursing programs of Blessing Hospital.
Amber (Kayley) Bailey, Quincy, IL, earned the Reon B. Altgilbers Scholarship, which was established in 2016 to honor her life by her family. Altgilbers was a determined, goal-oriented wife and mother who dedicated many years to Blessing Health System through employment and volunteering, as well as to other charitable organizations in the area. She passed away in 2015 at age 53.
The Norma Jean McNay Scholarship was awarded to Benjamin Rachilla of Mountain Top, PA. Norma McNay began her own career as a registered nurse at Blessing Hospital in 1959 and taught in the Blessing Hospital School of Nursing as a Clinical Instructor in Foundations of Nursing. She served as a resident member of the School of Nursing Committee with Lucille (Cedric) Rieman (of which the College eventually was named), and with her 55 years on the School/College of Nursing Board, the health care community is forever grateful for her dedication and 60 years of service to the Blessing Health System.
Brooke Job of LaGrange, MO, earned the AAUW Scholarship. The AAUW has been helping women pursue higher education since 1881, tracing back to a time when few women had that opportunity.
Tammy Hogan, Palmyra, MO, who is enrolled in the Health Information Management program at the college, was awarded the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences (BRCN) Crisis and Scholarship Fund Scholarship, which assists students enrolled in one of the college’s special programs, including Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care, Medical Laboratory, and Health Information Management. Donations can be contributed to this fund, which was thoughtfully created by an anonymous donor in the Quincy, Illinois community.
BRCN offers a joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, a joint Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science, and a joint Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care, all in partnership with Culver-Stockton College, Canton, MO., and Quincy University, Quincy, IL. BRCN also offers an Associate of Science in Health Information Management, an Associate of Science in Medical Laboratory, an online RN to BSN, an online Master of Science in Nursing and a Second Degree transfer option.
BRCN is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), and holds continuing accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), The College is approved by the Illinois Department of Higher Education, the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, the Missouri Division of Profession Registration, Board of Nursing, and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
The Blessing Foundation, Inc., raises, manages and disburses privately donated gifts to Blessing Health System affiliates to improve the quality, depth and scope of health services available to residents of the region.