Nine types of scholarships are awarded annually to help Children's Mercy employees in nursing programs leading to an LPN or RN degree and nurses pursuing an advanced degree.

The scholarships are named in honor of:

• Ina Calkins   -- Long-time Children's Mercy benefactor. 
• Dean Cowles   -- Former director of nursing.
• Michael Joseph Meers – A former patient. Meers’ family generously funds the scholarship in his memory.
• Dee Lyons -- Created by the long-time benefactor.
• Judy Vellucci – Former neonatal nurse practitioner. Co-workers, friends and family have contributed to fund a scholarship in her memory.
• Daniel Miller –  Children’s Mercy patient, whose family raised money for the Children’s Mercy Cancer Center and Liver Transplant departments.
• Bonnie Curtis Galeazzi – Supports an outstanding employee at Children’s Mercy Hospital who routinely possesses the “Mercy Spirit” - being important in the life of a child. 
• Nancy Whalen – a former staff/charge nurse in the Orthopaedic clinic. Funds are raised from the annual Designer Showhouse, sponsored by the Junior Women’s Symphony Association.
• Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Wells – Long-standing supporters of Children’s Mercy who have established a nursing scholarship fund.

"People say nurses are the heart of health care - in many ways they are health care,” says Karen Cox, RN, PhD, FAAN, senior vice president, Patient Care Services at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. "We are committed to Children's Mercy employees who want to become nurses and nurses who want to further their education.  They are important to Children's Mercy and the health of children in Kansas City."

The scholarship winners will be honored during a special ceremony on Wednesday, May 10, at 11 a.m. at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

The 2006 Nursing Scholarship Winners are:

Ina Calkins Scholarship

• Jackie A. Bartlett, RN, program manager, Evidence-Based Guidelines, Patient Care Services
• Goldie Benz, RN, Endocrine
• Dawn Boswell, nurse technician, 4 Sutherland
• Devin Bowers, RN, Nursing Float Pool
• Brooke Clark, RN, Same Day Surgery
• Sarah Dedrick, RN, 3 Henson
• Elizabeth Edmundson, RN, Sedation
• Michele Fix, RN, Patient Care Services
• Dawn Foster, RN, Intensive Care Nursery
• Maria Ginger-Wiley, RN, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
• Erica Grover, RN, 4 Sutherland
• Kathy Hulse, RN, Orthopaedic Section
• Kate Kilgo, RN, 3 Henson
• Megan Lynch, RN, CPON, CPN, Emergency Department
• Katherine Mick, RN, CPON, Education Department
• Beth Orrick, RN, Same Day Surgery
• Dawn Schwartz, RN, CCRN, Intensive Care Nursery
• Gina Stanke, RN, CPN, Research and Grants
• Tiffany Verhulst, senior nurse technician, 4 Henson
• Cierra Wainscott, RN, 6 Henson
• Lynne Winkle, RN, 3 Henson
• Laura Woodford, RN , CDE, CPN, Endocrine

Dean Cowles Scholarship
• Veronica Bryne, RN, MS, Cardiology
• Terri Gray, RN, Endocrine Clinic
• Sarah Hight, nurse technician, 2 Henson
• Deborah Jaklevic, RN, Pain Management
• Shannon Kellogg, RN, Same Day Surgery
• Kendra Kirkman, RN, Utlization and Case Management
• Jessie Kunzler, care assistant, 3 Henson
• Lindsay Collene, nurse technician, Outpatient Services
• Jodi Lissauer, RN, 6 Henson
• Michelle Martin, care assistant, Teen Clinic
• Tracy McEnaney, RN, CPN, 4 Sutherland
• Sofia Navarro, RN, 3 Henson
• Holly O’Hare, RN, Sedation
• Patricia Phillips, RN, CPN, Children’s Mercy South Urgent Care Center
• Shannon Rhoton, RN, Same Day Surgery
• Rosemary Sayer, RNC, Intensive Care Nursery
• Laura Shroyer, RN, CPN, 6 Henson
• Amber Smith, RN, Dermatology
• Bonnie Tecza, RN, CPN, Sedation
• Amber Trayford, RN, Intensive Care Nursery

Michael Joseph Meers Scholarship
• Jessica Herrick, nurse technician, 5 Sutherland
• Susan Sarcone, RN, Hematology/Oncology
• Christine Symes, RN, BSN, 5 Sutherland

Dee Lyons Scholarship
• Adrienne Platt, RN, MSN, CPNP, Endocrine
• Millie Tringale-Murray, RN, CPN, LNC, Contact Center

Judy Vellucci Scholarship
• Ginny Boos, RN, Intensive Care Nursery

Daniel Miller Scholarship
• Rosalia Gutierrez, interpreter, Parallel Parkway
• Heather Sambol, RN, 4 Sutherland
• Amy Sweeten, RN, CCRN, Intensive Care Nursery

Bonnie Curtis Galeazzi Scholarship
• Rachel Bailey, care assistant, 4 Sutherland
• Lisa Moran, care assistant/technician, Emergency Department

Nancy Whalen Scholarship
• Tracy Baugher, technician, Children’s Mercy Northland Urgent Care Center
• Janet Klein, RNC, Intensive Care Nursery
• Patrick Pickert

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Wells Scholarship
• Bryan Limer, transport RT/security officer, Transport
• Peter May, Critical Care LPN, Emergency Department
• Nicky Spears, RN, CPN, Research and Grants

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