Menu
Betty Jean Lowery was born in 1938 in a farm house near New Ross, Ind. She had to overcome many obstacles throughout her life. She knew at the age of 16 that she needed to do something to better her future. She was a dedicated high school student graduating valedictorian of her class, and had secretly applied for various nursing scholarship to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Betty was awarded those scholarships and began her nursing training at the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in August 1956. She graduated in 1959. She went on to receive her BSN in 1963 and work in various hospitals throughout Indiana. Betty stated that the main reason she wanted to establish a scholarship was to help more individuals achieve their dream of becoming a nurse. Scholarships had helped her, and she wanted to pay it forwards. “My career would not have happened without those scholarships,” said Betty. “I have been victorious in my life. I am a Christian. My faith has sustained me. Any negativity I may have had I now know it too shall pass. Thank you, Father God and Lord Jesus, for showing me how to have compassion, love and to take care of others. I have been blessed.”Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The Betty J. McCay Schober Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of Mrs. Schober and provided in her memory by her family. Mrs. Schober was an alumnus of St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, having graduated in the class of 1947. Mrs. Schober was raised in a small farming community in Indiana and it is the family’s wish that students benefiting from this scholarship have a similar background.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The Brenda E. Murray Memorial Scholarship was established in 2019 by Brenda’s family to honor her memory. Brenda was a dedicated nurse, wife, sister, mother, family member and friend. After graduating from the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in 1989, she began her nursing career in the emergency department at Home Hospital and then went on to have a successful 29-year long career as a nurse at the Roudebush VA Medical Center. Brenda’s life may have been shortened due to a battle with cancer, but her legacy and devotion to others continues to shine with each new day.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
In 1968, the Franciscan Health Auxiliary Lafayette established a scholarship for St. Elizabeth School of Nursing students. The funds for the scholarship came from the Washburn Health Careers Fund, which was established in honor of Mary B. Washburn, a long-time volunteer of the Auxiliary, as well as other sources and activities.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The Loeb Scholarship was established to provide a $1,000 merit scholarship for up to eight semesters of assistance to an outstanding applicant of the Registered Nursing Diploma-Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN), St. Elizabeth School of Nursing-University and Saint Francis Cooperative Nursing Program. The award is renewable for up to eight semesters (a total of $8,000) as long as the student is maintaining satisfactory academic progress as outlined in School of Nursing policies.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
Juanita Burnett Marchand was born in 1927 in Indianapolis, Ind. and from a very young age she knew that taking care of others would be at the root of her career. In December of 1941, while sitting in a freshman study hall, Juanita very much remembered the loud speaker at her school crackling with the message: “This is your President.” The President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was announcing that the United States was at war. In the stunned stillness of the room, a black and white picture came into Juanita’s head of a young dark-haired woman dressed in white, weaving her way through men on a battlefield. She knew at that moment that her desire was to become a nurse. In the late summer of 1945, she began a three-year nursing program in Indianapolis. She held various nursing positions in her lifetime: on medical and surgical floors, in doctor’s offices, in nurseries and in nursing homes.
To those who receive this scholarship: “I hope you may find satisfaction – even soul satisfaction – in this Healing Modality -always remembering that those we are, and those we serve, are more than bodies. My very best to you, I am thankful I could help with your education. Hang in there, I’m pulling for you,” – Juanita Burnett Marchand, 2015.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
Karen Bahler, MSN, RN graduated from St Elizabeth School of Nursing in 2008. She was known for her contagious laugh and her comforting humble spirit. While going to nursing school, she gracefully juggled the tasks of school, clinicals, motherhood, working a part time job at Wal-Mart and a new diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Following graduation, she would go on to obtain her masters in nursing and work as the Patient Care Director at IU Health in Bloomington, IN. Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29 which took her from us at the age of 36. She was a wonderful mother to three children, and wife to her husband of fifteen years.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
Mabel M. Knight was born in Attica, IN in February 1916 and remained a lifelong resident of the area. During her life, Mabel held many positions; she worked as a secretary for the Lux Agency for over 50 years, before retiring in 1987 and she worked part-time as a closing agent for Prairie Homes. She was also a member of the Women of the Moose, served as president of the Women’s Carpenter Auxiliary, was a charter member of the American Motorcycle Association, a member of the Long Center Theatre Organ Society and served as volunteer with the Franciscan Health Lafayette Auxiliary.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The Nola J. Gentry St. Elizabeth School of Nursing Endowed Scholarship was established by Ned Derhammer in memory and honor of his wife, Nola Gentry.
Nola was a true leader in the Greater Lafayette community. She not only served as a Tippecanoe County Commissioner from 1990-1996, but she was a frontrunner in her church and in Indiana agriculture, having been the president of Gentry Farms since 1981. Nola Gentry will always be remembered as a leader who was fun to be around, had an ever-present smile, a positive attitude, a willingness to help and volunteer and the wonderful food she would bring into every carry-in.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The Captain Sally Watlington, USN (Ret.) St. Elizabeth School of Nursing Endowed Scholarship was established by Captain Watlington. She is a volunteer with Franciscan Health Western Indiana, having served as Board Chair from 2014 through 2017, as well as Chair of the Mission/HR and Medical Staff Affairs/Quality Improvement committees and has been a member of the hospital board since 2008.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The St. Clare Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship was established through funds raised by the Auxiliary in recognition of more than 50 years of dedicated service given by volunteers supporting quality patient care in Montgomery County at Franciscan Health Crawfordsville.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The Susan (Hoenigman) Castor Nursing Scholarship was established by her husband, Michael, in 2023. Susan graduated in August 1966 from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing. After graduation, she devoted her early years to her marriage, raising her children and caring for her family; but then went on to serve in multiple nursing leadership positions such as the director of nursing for various long-term care facilities and a hospice program administrator. After retiring from the nursing field, she and her husband moved to Pentwater, Michigan where they opened two stores, Air Fun Kites and Pentwater Toy Box, which they owned and operated for 17 years.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The Susan Oesterling Whitaker Nursing Scholarship is named in honor of Mrs. Oesterling Whitaker and was established by her family in honor of her memory. Susan was an alumnus of St. Elizabeth School of Nursing class of 1989 and worked as a registered nurse at St. Elizabeth Regional Health for more than 20 years following graduation. She lived a wonderful life that was tragically shortened after a battle with cancer at the age of 42. She touched many lives including her family, friends and patients.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The William and Martha Fancher Nursing Scholarship was established by Mrs. Fancher in 2011 to help deserving students achieve their dream of becoming a nurse by offsetting the cost of tuition at St. Elizabeth School of Nursing. Mrs. Fancher is an alumnus of the St. Anthony Hospital’s School of Nursing in Terre Haute, Indiana, and worked for a family doctor in Lafayette for many years.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration:
The Wilson Family Nursing Scholarship was established by Terry and Annette Wilson to encourage and support students enrolled at the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing.
Minimum Criteria for Consideration: