Auxiliary Awards Nine $1000 Scholarships
July 12, 2023
Nine students pursuing health care careers received a helping hand recently when each received a $1,000 grant-in-aid from the Auxiliary at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese.
This year’s recipients include:
· Grace Boeschen, a recent graduate of Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville (SIUE), beginning her Master of Science studies this fall at SIUE in the speech-language pathology program with a goal of working with pediatric patients with a cleft lip and/or on a cleft palate team.
· Jessica Eilers, a Germantown resident and Central Community High School graduate, who is on track to graduate in December from Maryville University where she is in the physical therapy program.
· Emma Gebke, an Aviston resident and Mater Dei High School graduate, who plans to graduate from the Kaskaskia College nursing program next May.
· Hayden Hoerchler, a Trenton resident and 2023 Wesclin High School graduate, who will be majoring in biomedical engineering at the University of Iowa in Iowa City this fall with a goal of becoming an anesthesiologist.
· Mitchell Mannhard, a Mater Dei High School valedictorian who will pursue classes in the physical therapy program at Maryville University this fall with a goal of receiving his doctorate in the field.
· Michelle Markus who is on track to receive her nursing degree from Kaskaskia College this December.
· Kylie Schubel plans to graduate next year from Kaskaskia College’s nursing program with a goal of becoming a pediatric nurse and eventually a pediatric nurse practitioner.
· Rylee Sudholt, an Aviston resident and Mater Dei High School graduate, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biopsychology with a minor in occupational therapy from McKendree University in 2023 and will next head to the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville for her Master of Science degree in occupational therapy.
· Grace Toennies, a Central Community High School graduate who is starting the physical therapy program at Maryville University this fall with a goal of eventually receiving her doctorate in the field.
Recipients were announced and certificates presented by Auxiliary Scholarship co-chairs Lynn Rinella and Jacqueline Chiarolanza, Auxiliary Assistant Treasurer Mary Aubuchon and hospital Director of Volunteer Services Chris Gebke.
Each grant-in-aid was presented in honor or memory of past Auxiliary members who passed away between 2017 and 2020 including Martha Altgilbers, Nancy Billhartz, Dolores Cintalon, Brenda Dumstorff, Dolores Fonke, Joan Foppe, Joyce Gilomen, Bernice Huelsmann, Rosemary Hughes, Florence Ilges, Bertha Kampwerth, Millie Korzenewski, Joan Lampe, Bernita Mensing, Dee Morrison, Diane Mottola, Rosemary Rakers, Sandra Russell, Marie Timmermann and Adrienne Wobbe. Grants were also given in the names of Florence and Joe Seiffert, and Andrew’s Great-Grandmother/Elizabeth Schroeder.
During the event, Chris Gebke gave a brief history of the scholarship program noting that the first scholarship of $500 was given in 1970 and to date, the organization has presented $289,000 in scholarships. The Auxiliary has existed for 53 years and currently has 200 active and 87 honorary members. Gebke noted that volunteers are active in almost every hospital department, are completely responsible for the Gift Shop, underwrite a variety of services such as memorial boxes, and donate between $20,000 and $30,000 every other year to the hospital for a specific need.
The students were congratulated by HSHS Illinois Human Resources Business Partner Nicole Schroeder, representing the hospital’s senior leadership team. Schroeder commended the students in choosing health care career pathways. She also noted the availability of job shadowing opportunities at St. Joseph’s Hospital and encouraged the students to consider returning to Clinton County after graduation to serve area residents.
Health care grants-in-aid are funded through a variety of sources including individual donations, memorials and several Auxiliary sales. To donate to the scholarship fund or for more information, contact Chris Gebke, director of volunteer services, at 618-526-5351 or email Christine.Gebke@hshs.org.
