The Decatur Memorial Foundation recently announced winners of the Decatur Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Scholarships, Dr. Richard H. Fritz Nursing Scholarship, Dr. Thomas W. Samuels Nursing Scholarship, Dr. Joseph Schrodt Science Scholarship and the Decatur Memorial Foundation Agriculture Scholarships.
“We appreciate the generosity of the donors who invest in the continuing education of area students through Decatur Memorial Foundation scholarships,” said Tamar Kutz, interim president and CEO of Decatur Memorial Hospital. “Supporting the best and brightest of our local students helps us retain their talents in our own communities after they finish their degrees.”
The following students were named scholarship award winners:
- Receiving a $5,000 Decatur Memorial Auxiliary Scholarship are Nora Fisk from Maroa-Forsyth High School, attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for biochemistry; Rylie Cohn from Warrensburg-Latham High School, attending Illinois College for nursing; and Jayne Damery of Central A&M High School, attending Millikin University for nursing.
- George Holler from MacArthur High School and Richland Community College, attending Millikin University for nursing, received the $5,000 Dr. Richard H. Fritz Nursing Scholarship.
- Victoria Bady from MacArthur High School, attending Richland Community College for nursing, received the $2,500 Dr. Thomas W. Samuels Nursing Scholarship.
- Brooklyn Booker from Sullivan High School, attending Lakeland Community College for pre-veterinary medicine, received the Dr. Joseph Schrodt Science Scholarship which is $750 per academic year ($3,000 over course of four years).
- Receiving the $5,000 Decatur Memorial Foundation Agriculture Scholarships are Peyton Peters
from Maroa-Forsyth High School attending Richland Community College for agriculture-business and Isabelle Lorzano from MacArthur High School, attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in animal science.
Established in 1954, the Decatur Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is currently made up of nearly 150 volunteers who give back to the hospital, donating more than 25,000 hours annually to help ensure a quality patient experience. They also raise funds in support of special projects throughout the hospital. The auxiliary established these scholarships to help support the next generation of hospital healthcare workers to care for the community.
Dr. Richard H. Fritz was a highly respected internal medicine physician at DMH. Following his death, many of those he worked with and cared for established a memorial in his honor. Contributions to this fund help provide scholarships for nursing education for future healthcare workers to reflect Dr. Fritz’s legacy of commitment and generosity.
Dr. Thomas W. Samuels was a surgeon at DMH who exemplified compassionate and expert healthcare. Recognizing a critical need for more nurses and wanting to support the future of care available at DMH, Dr. Samuels established an educational endowment fund for nursing students attending Richland Community College.
Dr. Joseph Schrodt was an orthopedic surgeon at DMH who served the community with kindness and humility and remained devoted to his central Illinois roots. The Dr. Schrodt Science Scholarship celebrates his generosity, love of community and devotion to medicine.
The Decatur Memorial Foundation has been gifted more than 3,000 acres of working farmland in Macon County and the surrounding area. These agricultural gifts provide unrestricted income that allows the foundation to fund health-related projects and initiatives within the hospital and the communities we serve. The Decatur Memorial Foundation is committed to growing the next generation of agriculture professionals by awarding this scholarship to individuals pursuing a degree in agriculture-related sciences.
For more information about educational grants and scholarships available through the Decatur Memorial Foundation, visit memorial.health/dmf.
The Decatur Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports Decatur Memorial Hospital’s mission to improve lives and build stronger communities through better health.