New nursing scholarship established at Ohio University Eastern
The scholarship was endowed by alumnus Charles D. Joseph, who was inspired to start the scholarship in honor of his wife Jo Ann, a retired registered nurse.
Ohio University Eastern has established the Charles D. Joseph Nursing Scholarship, which will be awarded to nursing students who demonstrate financial need and academic talent. Charles D. Joseph, who graduated from Ohio University and went on to have a military career, decided to establish the scholarship in his wife’s honor, who is a retired registered nurse.
According to an article on Ohio University Eastern’s website, OHIO Eastern Dean David Rohall was quoted as saying of the scholarship establishment, “This scholarship enhances opportunities for local students while strengthening Ohio University Eastern’s nursing program. By alleviating some of the financial burdens of nursing school, it allows students to focus on their coursework and clinical training. We are incredibly grateful for Joseph’s generosity and commitment to advancing healthcare education in our region.”
The Charles D. Joseph Nursing Scholarship will be awarded to nursing students who have demonstrated financial need and academic merit, with preference given to students who graduated from Barnesville High School like Charles did, and to students who come from any high school in Belmont County, Ohio. The scholarship will help cover about one-third of the student’s tuition for up to two years.
Nursing student Isabella Parker was this year’s inaugural recipient of the scholarship. She spoke about her goals as a future nurse and how the scholarship will be making her journey a little bit easier. Parker shared, "My long-term goals in nursing focus on women's health. After graduation, I will be working in the Emergency Department at Barnesville Hospital and plan to further my education in forensics. One of my main goals is to become a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) and possibly collaborate with the criminal justice system. It can be extremely challenging mentally, physically, emotionally and financially. Receiving this scholarship was unexpected but has been incredibly helpful this semester. It has allowed me to focus on my studies and reduce the stress of my final semester. Now, I can concentrate on providing safe, compassionate care for my patients and have more time to prepare for my NCLEX licensing exam."
After graduating from Ohio University Eastern, Charles went on to a military career. He was an active duty military member for 33 years. He decided he wanted to give back to the university that shaped his education and career. Charles’ wife Jo Ann was a registered nurse at the Cleveland Clinic for 40 years. She has since retired, and Charles was inspired to help nursing students in particular because of his wife’s dedication to her profession.
He said, “OHIO Eastern played a significant role in my education and personal growth. The opportunities I had here shaped my future, and I wanted to ensure that today’s students have similar chances to succeed. Nursing is a relatively new program at OHIO Eastern and does not have many, if any, named scholarships. Since I attended Ohio University Eastern while working, I understand how valuable financial assistance can be. I hope recipients of this scholarship will be lifetime learners and continue to strive for excellence. Additionally, I hope that someday, they too will be in a position to pay it forward.”
For more information about Ohio University Eastern, visit the school’s website.