Tuscora Park Health & Wellness Foundation Announces 2024 Nursing Scholarships

Tuscora Park Health & Wellness Foundation Announces 2024 Nursing Scholarships

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation Celebrates Nursing Students

(July 10, 2024, Barberton, Ohio) — Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation (TPHWF) awarded $35,000 to 7 nursing students on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Members of the Foundation’s board of governors and donors joined the students and their families for a celebratory scholarship luncheon at LaLa’s in the Lakes. Guest speaker, Karen Fitzgerald, a professor in the University of Akron School of Nursing, spoke to the group. Fitzgerald encouraged the students to focus their efforts on the whole person, emphasizing connection, empathy, and dignity as worthy values in the nursing field.

Board member Mary Jo Goss thanked everyone for attending and shared her best wishes for the students on behalf of the Foundation. “I am sure you will all go far,” she said. “It is reassuring to see all of your enthusiasm, compassion, and dedication to nursing. I wish you well in your journeys, and hope you stay in touch with all of us.”

 Each of these students is pursuing a Registered Nursing degree.

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation is proud introduce the 2024 scholarship recipients:

  • Molly Cunningham, a senior attending Kent State University at Stark and BHS graduate, received a Kovalchin Memorial Scholarship and a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Julia Davenport, a junior attending The University of Akron Wayne Campus, received a Kovalchin Memorial Scholarship and a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Hayden Graffice, a senior attending the University of Mount Union; received a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Mary Beth Kiss, a senior attending the University of Akron, received a Scholarship in Memory of Emma Rist, RN, and a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Mary Krege, a BHS graduate attending Malone University, received a Carol A. Storad Nursing Excellence Scholarship and a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Christina Maldonado, a senior attending Kent State University and BHS graduate, received a Kovalchin Memorial Scholarship, the Christine Elaine Weigand RN Memorial Scholarship, and a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Saedie Suboticki, attending The University of Akron Wayne Campus and BHS graduate, received a Kovalchin Memorial Scholarship.

About the scholarships:

The Bernadine H. Kovalchin, R.N. Scholarship honors Kovalchin, who was an RN at Barberton Citizens Hospital with 13 years’ service, leaving in 1971 as Assistant Coordinator of Nursing Education. She was a longtime local high school instructor of Vocational Medical Careers Training and worked as a school nurse.

The committee annually recognizes another commendable nurse through the scholarship in honor of Emma Rist, R.N., who was a catalyst for the creation of a Coronary Care Unit and then head nurse of the CCU at Barberton Citizens Hospital. Rist was very dedicated to the nursing profession and a visionary for advancements in nursing.

The Carol A. Storad Nursing Excellence Award recognizes an exemplary woman who began as a staff nurse and retired as Chief Nursing Officer at Barberton Citizens Hospital, serving for 43-years total. After retiring she taught high school students interested in pursuing a nursing career as part of a four-city compact program and was affiliated with The University of Akron.

The Christine Elaine Weigand RN Memorial Scholarship is meant to help future nurses overcome obstacles and to achieve their dreams. She was an extraordinary clinician who spent 30 years as an RN, working as a charge nurse, as a preceptor for new RN employees, and as a care manager on the 5100 unit and in the emergency room at Akron General Medical Center (now Cleveland Clinic Akron General). She was active in National Association of Orthopedic Nurses (NAON) and was honored with an Excellence in Nursing award during Nurses Week in 2002.

About TPHWF

Founded in 1997, the Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation is proud to invest in the education of future nurses and in projects that promote health and wellness in our community. 

Mission statement: the Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation promotes wellness and helps extend health care, medical and educational services and opportunities to the residents of Summit County and contiguous counties.

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation Celebrates 2022 Nursing Scholarship Recipients

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation Celebrates 2022 Nursing Scholarship Recipients

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation Celebrates the 2022 Nursing Scholarship Awardees

Scholarship event photos:

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation awarded $38,800 to 10 nursing students on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Members of the foundation’s board of governors and donors joined the students and their families for a celebratory scholarship luncheon at LaLa’s in the Lakes.

Dr. Doug Gormley, a past-president on the board of governors, said that he enjoyed meeting in person again. “It has been two years since we’ve been able to gather to congratulate these students. It is wonderful to enjoy a meal with them, learn about their progress in school and see the pride in their parents’ faces. As a donor and a board member, today is about celebrating and supporting them.”

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation’s scholarship model allows students to apply for scholarships every year they are in an accredited nursing program. Several of the students have received scholarships in previous years.

Mary Jo Goss, a registered nurse and member of the board of governors, said it’s rewarding to see the students’ progress through the years of their studies. “I am particularly proud of the growth I have seen in Zack Scalf,” she said. “He has been a recipient of our scholarships for three years now and in his senior year, his maturity stands out. I believe he is going to do well.”

Mary Jo asked the final-year students to share a favorite or memorable moment from one of their nursing experiences. Students shared memories of their first shifts in trauma care, providing support at vaccine clinics and the joy of caring for a new baby. She said, “As you continue your journey in this career, over the years you’ll be faced with many challenges. I want you to remember the story you shared today and pull strength from it.”

Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation is proud introduce the 2022 scholarship recipients:

  • Todd Besse is a junior attending The University of Akron; he received a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Sophie Burns is a senior attending The Ohio State University; she received the Scholarship in Memory of Emma Rist, RN and The Christine Elaine Weigand RN Memorial Scholarship.
  • Molly Cunningham is a sophomore attending Kent State University at Stark; she received the Kovalchin Memorial Scholarship and a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Madeline Gay, a senior at Malone University, received a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Sydney Graffice is a senior at the University of Mount Union; she received a Kovalchin Memorial Scholarship and a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Christina Maldonado is a sophomore attending Kent State University; she received a Kovalchin Memorial Scholarship and a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Madeleine Ray, a sophomore attending The University of Akron, received a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Macy Ries, a senior attending The University of Akron, received a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.
  • Zachary Scalf is a senior at Hiram University; he received the Carol A. Storad Nursing Excellence Scholarship.
  • Layah Taylor is a sophomore attending The University of Akron; she received a Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Nursing Scholarship.

About the scholarships:

The Bernadine H. Kovalchin, R.N. Scholarship Fund honors Kovalchin, who was an RN at Barberton Citizens Hospital with 13 years’ service, leaving in 1971 as Assistant Coordinator of Nursing Education. She was a longtime local high school instructor of Vocational Medical Careers Training and worked as a school nurse.

The committee recognizes another commendable nurse with the “Scholarship in Memory of Emma Rist. Rist was head nurse of the Coronary Care Unit at Barberton Citizens Hospital and was very dedicated to the nursing profession.

The Carol A. Storad Nursing Excellence Award recognizes an exemplary woman who began as a staff nurse and retired as Chief Nursing Officer at Barberton Citizens Hospital, serving for 43-years total. After retiring she taught high school students interested in pursuing a nursing career as part of a four-city compact program and was affiliated with the University of Akron.

The Christine Elaine Weigand RN Memorial Scholarship is meant to help future nurses overcome obstacles and to achieve their dreams.  She was an extraordinary clinician who spent 30 years as an RN, working as a charge nurse, as a preceptor for new RN employees, and as a care manager on the 5100 unit and in the emergency room at Akron General Medical Center (now Cleveland Clinic Akron General). She was active in NAON (National Association of Orthopedic Nurses) and was honored with an Excellence in Nursing award during Nurses Week in 2002.