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Thanks to the generosity of donors, Mercy Health Foundation Southeast has again awarded health care scholarships to students within Southeast Missouri.
On Friday, Aug. 1, the foundation awarded more than $23,000 in scholarships to 23 students who were honored for their accomplishments during the 2025 Scholarship Awards Luncheon at the Jackson Civic Center.
Sheila Beussink, dean of nursing at Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, addressed the scholarship recipients, their families and donors, recognizing their dedication to health care.
“You are choosing an honorable profession to serve others in health care,” said Beussink. “There are three things that served me well over my 35-years: ‘say yes,’ invest the time and energy into the people you work with and be resilient. I hope you find health care as rewarding, challenging and fulfilling as I have.”
Mercy Southeast chief nursing officer Katie Finder and chief operating officer Anna Lopez presented each scholarship winner with certificates. Darah Jirkovsky, executive director of Mercy Health Foundation Southeast, served as master of ceremonies.
Since 1962, this scholarship program has awarded more than $1.2 million to local students, thereby supporting the education of more than 1,100 current and future health care workers in the region.
This year’s recipients include:
Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Hanna Clovis, Hugh & Marietta Logan Scholarship
- Marki Coomer, Ronald James Schwent Nursing Scholarship
- Tiarah Davis, Sheila R. Caskey, Ph.D., Scholarship
- Addison Engelen, L.P. Maxwell, M.D., Scholarship
- Elaine Flowers, Ronald James Schwent Nursing Scholarship
- Kayla Goode, James W. Wente Scholarship
- Kylie Holloway, O.D. Niswonger Scholarship
- Alexis Laster, Karen Crites Hendrickson Ed.D., RN, NEA-BC, Scholarship
- Riley Ledure, Nancy Ann Bray Scholarship
- Vanessa Mungate, Dorothy Kies Penzel Scholarship
- Charlene Penick, Charlotte Black Sargent Scholarship
- Carli Waites, Tom Welch Radiography Scholarship
- Lexi Welter, Jean Chapman, M.D., Scholarship
- Tara Wibbenmeyer, Ilena Aslin Scholarship
Southeast Missouri State University
- Jenna Essner, Hazel Harrison Strickler Scholarship
- Madison Kribs, Margaret Foster Roberts Scholarship
- Cameron Marchi, Mercy Health Foundation Southeast SEMO Scholarship
- Sydnee Williams, Mercy Health Foundation Southeast SEMO Scholarship
Beck School of Practical Nursing
- Rachael Young, Elda Haertling Scholarship
Jefferson College
- Alexis Keller, Hutson Family Scholarship
Southern Illinois University
- Emma Shields, Balsamo Family Scholarship
Three Rivers College
- Hanna Crawford, Polly DuVal Kinder Scholarship
University of Missouri
- Lawson Blocker, William and Martina Scott Scholarship
