Healthcare students receive Auxiliary grants

The Auxiliary at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese marked their 40 th year of student support when the organization presented $10,000 in grants-in-aid to 20 healthcare students.

Grants, given in memory of an Auxiliary member or friend, were distributed during the Auxiliary’s annual meeting Thursday, June 24, at the Breese American Legion. Each student received $500.

“Lights for Scholarship” was established in 1970 when the Auxiliary awarded one $500 grant-in-aid, said Judy Schrage, hospital Volunteer Services director whose department coordinates the organization. Including the $10,000 given this year, the organization has presented $134,000 to 280 students.

Funding is from the Auxiliary’s Lights for Scholarship campaign, memorial and honor donations. A walk to benefit the scholarship fund is planned for Saturday, Sept. 11, at the hospital HealthPlex Fitness Track.

Nancy Renschen chairs the Auxiliary Scholarship Committee and presented the awards.

Of the grants presented, 11 went to students in nursing or a nursing-related field including:

-Kristina Marie Hemann of Germantown, a family nurse practitioner student at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, in memory of Auxiliary member Johanna Fuehne;

-Jenna Marie Geragosian of Aviston, a nurse anesthetist student at Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College in St. Louis, in memory of Auxiliary member Ralph Timmermann;

-Rene Christine Kruse of Beckemeyer, a student in the nurse educator program at McKendree University in Lebanon, in memory of Auxiliary member Linda Problys;

-Maggie Lynn Burton of Aviston, a nursing student at Maryville University in St. Louis, in memory of Auxiliary member Pauline Kueper;

-Jenee Ellen Foehner of Breese, a Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville nursing student, in memory of Auxiliary member Verene Heldorfer;

-Jessica Marie Haukap of Albers, a Chamberlain College of Nursing student, in memory of Auxiliary member Minnie Tebbe;

-Kalyn E. Keilbach of Breese, a nursing student at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo., in memory of Auxiliary member George Eaton;

-Kelly Elizabeth Mensing of Beckemeyer, a Maryville University nursing student, in memory of Auxiliary member Marie Schwarz;

-Brooke Kathryn Restoff of Breese, a nursing student at St. Xavier University in Chicago, in memory of Auxiliary member Lorraine Hummert;

-Jennifer May Thole of Trenton, a Quincy University nursing student, in memory of Auxiliary member Ed Korte; and

-Teresa Gnaedinger of Pocahontas, a nurse assistant student at Kaskaskia College, in memory of Auxiliary member Ann Gnaedinger.

Of the remaining nine, two are in each of three fields: occupational therapy, physical therapy and pharmacy and one each are in medical assisting, radiation therapy and social work. They include:

-Valerie Marie Voss of Carlyle, a medical assistant student at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, in memory of Auxiliary member Mary Ann Fix;

-Elizabeth Henrichs of Breese, a St. Louis University occupational therapy student, in memory of Auxiliary member Helen Randant;

-Paige Elizabeth Johnson of Bartelso, a Maryville University occupational therapy student, in memory of Auxiliary member Ann Spihlmann;

-Lindsey Elise Wiegmann of Trenton, a clinical pediatric pharmacy student at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, in memory of Auxiliary member Cecelia Buss;

-Lisa Marie Deiters of Carlyle, also a St. Louis College of Pharmacy student, in memory of Auxiliary member Marcella Rascher;

-Teri Ann Kampwerth of Carlyle, a Maryville University physical therapy student, in memory of hospital employee Mary Henss;

-Tara Anne Roeckenhaus of Breese, a Maryville University physical therapy student, in memory of Auxiliary friend Alice Zurliene;

-Samantha Kay Sweeney of Albers, a radiation therapy student at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, in memory of Auxiliary member Henrietta Beckmann; and

-Elizabeth Ann Antonacci of Breese, a social work student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in memory of Auxiliary member Marilyn Adkins.

Family and friends of the recipients and those remembered were on hand for the presentations.

Also during the meeting, officers were elected, committee and activity chairpersons announced, reports presented and attendance prizes awarded. This year’s event carried an “In The Kitchen” theme and many members wore their favorite apron.

For more information on the Auxiliary or volunteer opportunities at St. Joseph’s in Breese, contact 526-5351 or e-mail Judy Schrage.