Brunkhorst Nursing Scholarship Established
SALISBURY, MD--After dedicating 33-years of her life to nursing in public schools, Lois Brunkhorst of Berlin donated a $10,000 nursing scholarship endowment and $1,500 general nursing scholarship to the Salisbury State University Nursing Department to help future nurses dedicate their lives to a profession of helping others.
“School nursing, and all nursing, isn’t just band-aids. It’s a way to help improve the life of everyone,” said Brunkhorst, who practiced in the New Jersey public schools. “Anyone going into nursing has to be dedicated to it.”
The registered nurse established a $10,000 Nursing Scholarship Endowment to provide additional scholarships for future students. This year she also funded a $1,500 scholarship for nursing students who are academically gifted, have a financial need and demonstrate outstanding potential for a career in nursing.
One freshman is eligible to receive $500 and one junior or senior is eligible to receive $1,000 from the scholarship.
“The scholarship and endowment are a tribute to a living nurse who helped improve the health of numerous residents,” said Dr. Lisa Seldomridge, SSU Department of Nursing chair.
The University’s School of Nursing will announce the freshman recipient before the fall 2001 semester.
Brunkhorst said the endowment and scholarship will help alleviate the heavy financial burden many nursing students face.
“I used to wash dishes for 25 cents an hour,” she said. “I know how hard it can be to work besides going to nursing school.”
Scholarships are an important deciding factor for many college-bound students. By offering numerous scholarships, SSU can attract and keep more students said Jack Freistat, SSU’s director of special gifts.
Many of SSU’s 6,400 students receive grants and financial aid. Nearly half receive scholarship money.
The State of Maryland’s Private Donation Incentive Program provided matching funds for the scholarship’s endowment.
For more information call the Department of Nursing at 410-543-6401 or visit the University’s Web site at www.salisbury.edu.