The Illinois Nurses Foundation created the Rural Workforce Development Nurse Scholarship to help nursing students who live in rural communities and plan to remain there after graduation. By easing the cost of education, the scholarship keeps talent where it is needed most. Better access. Stronger local hospitals. Healthier neighbors.
Below you will meet this year’s recipients. Each scholar brings a unique story, a shared commitment to rural health, and deep roots in the communities they serve.
2025 Scholarship Recipients
- Nick Alford — Lakeview College of Nursing | Danville, IL
Twelve years as a physical therapist assistant showed Nick the care gaps in his hometown. Now he commutes eighty minutes each way for nursing classes and works PRN shifts in Coles County facilities to keep neighbors close to experienced care. - Lauren Patterson — Illinois Wesleyan University | Waterloo, IL
Growing up in a town with no hospital, Lauren learned early that small rural teams build strong patient connections. She studies nursing in Bloomington and spends every summer interning at nearby critical‑access hospitals. - Belle Schiermeyer — Trinity Christian College | Rock Rapids, IA
Belle researches how language barriers affect Hispanic residents in northwest Iowa farm country. She is fluent in Spanish and aims to bridge communication gaps that delay treatment in rural clinics. - Reese Strubhart — Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Aviston, IL
A stint as a CNA in a memory‑care unit revealed Reese’s calling. She sees rural nursing as caring for neighbors, teachers, and friends who share her ZIP code, and is expanding her skills at SIUE. - Ashley Shields — Lakeview College of Nursing | Danville, IL
After caring for her daughter through leukemia, Ashley returned to school determined to bring compassionate pediatric and oncology care to families who cannot travel long distances for treatment. - Letara Jones — Illinois Institute of Nursing Studies | Freeport, IL
Letara watched as the limited staffing forced rural residents to postpone care. She plans to lead preventive‑health campaigns and views nursing as the most direct way to lift her hometown’s well‑being. - Nicole Wilson — Highland Community College | Lena, IL
Balancing first‑year coursework with hands‑on experience at FHN in Freeport, Nicole values rural hospitals’ teaching culture and work–life balance. She hopes to mentor the next wave of small‑town nurses. - Kaylee Steele — Graham Hospital School of Nursing | Table Grove, IL
Living with severe Crohn’s disease taught Kaylee the power of nurses who truly understand chronic illness. She is turning that empathy into skilled practice for patients across the Spoon River Valley. - Kelsey Corbin — Carl Sandburg College | Galesburg, IL
Kelsey believes rural nurses must lead community‑wide prevention efforts. Growing up in a small town showed her that trust and continuity save lives long before emergencies strike. - Weston Henderson — Shawnee Community College | Tunnel Hill, IL
Already an LPN, Weston is working toward his RN. Hours from the nearest Level I trauma center, he has learned to think creatively when resources run thin and wants every southern Illinois patient to feel valued, not stranded.
Why This Scholarship Matters
- Rural Illinois relies on nurses who understand hometown realities.
- Scholarships keep future nurses in their communities instead of pulling them toward larger cities.
- Your support—whether through donations, mentorship, or simple words of encouragement—helps these students succeed and keeps care close to home.
Join us in congratulating these scholars. Their dedication strengthens the fabric of rural healthcare in Illinois. If you would like to help the next cohort of students, visit the Illinois Nurses Foundation to learn how your gift can make a direct difference.