The Foundation proudly announces Jennifer Meineke is this year’s recipient of the Cato Scholar Award, made possible with an endowment gift from the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. and Marion R. Cato Foundation. Jennifer has been a member of the Environmental Services team at Sheridan Memorial Hospital for two years and is an active community volunteer with The Hub and previously served on the Story Volunteer Fire Department.
Jennifer is a second-year nursing student at Sheridan College and expects to graduate with her Associate Degree of Nursing in May 2021. The Foundation and Nursing Leadership applaud Jennifer Meineke on her efforts to achieve her goals, as she stated, “I feel my experience will uniquely benefit our community hospital and patients are given my multifaceted background in biology, nursing, and environmental services.”
Along with our Cato Scholarship Award, The Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation awarded 16 additional nursing and clinical education scholarships for hospital staff members throughout Sheridan Memorial Hospital departments.
The Educational Endowment was initiated in 2003 with private donations. Beginning with a vision of excellent care for our rural community, the program and endowment continue to grow and evolve alongside our strong nursing staff and their ability to provide specialty care.
Scholarship funds are distributed annually through an application and interview process. Nursing leadership from the hospital, along with Foundation Board members and staff, review and select the recipients. Including this year’s awards, The Foundation will have granted nearly $372,000 toward educational assistance to our hospital staff members. “We are proud of the Sheridan Memorial Hospital staff. We are so grateful we can provide opportunities and development to those who make our organization what it is today,” states Director of Donor Relations, Ada Kirven. “Our ability to assist in advancing their careers and invest in the hospital’s greatest asset – our people – is truly priceless.”
Awardees can use granted funds for a variety of educational opportunities such as Associate, Bachelor, and Graduate Degrees at a diverse group of colleges and universities, specialty area training for critical care, and professional conferences. This year’s nursing scholarships included programs at Sheridan College, the University of Wyoming, and Grand Canyon University. Other staff scholarships included Women’s Health Labor and Delivery, Welch Cancer Center, Dietitian Advanced Practice, Wound Care, Surgical Services, and the Big Horn Heart Center.
Visit The Foundation at Sheridan Memorial Hospital or call Ada Kirven at 673-2417 for more information.