Tricia
Marie Simpson Russell
Memorial
Scholarship
Application deadline: January 15th
The Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County and the family of
Tricia Marie Simpson Russell, a nurse at the VNA until her death,
recently established a memorial scholarship to assist individual
nursing students to advance their education.
Laura Harting, VNA executive director, says the staff was saddened
by the death of Ms. Russell in February 2008, following an auto
accident in October 2007. Ms. Russell, a primary nurse during her
four years at the VNA, “was a good role model for new nurses and was
the first to volunteer to pilot the primary/staff nurse team concept
to improve the quality and continuity of patient care,” says Harting.
According to family members, “Tricia loved being a nurse and knew
she was destined to be a nurse from the time she was a small
girl. "The nurses that cared for her as a child made a great
impression on her,” the family says, “and were responsible for her
non-wavering desire to be a nurse herself. Tricia was a truly kind,
caring generous person who believed that nothing was more important
than being a mother and a nurse.”
The purpose of the Tricia Marie Simpson Russell Memorial Scholarship
is to assist individual nursing students to advance their
education. Applicants must be able to provide evidence of
application to or current enrollment in a nursing program. Because
Tricia was a single parent, preference will be given to single
parents with dependent children.
