RN to BSN Student Receives Nursing Scholarship

Courtney Dill, Linda Nelson, Lynn Friebel, Missy Compton, and Jackie Owens

Ashland University RN to BSN student Melissa (Missy) Compton recently received the Wanda June Humphrey Nursing Scholarship.  On December 23, Lynn Fribel, Director of the Shelby Foundation, presented the award to Missy on her unit at MedCentral Health System.  Missy holds the position of Clinical Leader of the Birthing Suite.  Courtney Dill, Nurse Manager of the perinatal unit, Linda Nelson, Director of Perinatal Services and Jackie Owen, Director of the RN to BSN program were present for the scholarship presentation.  Missy will graduate in May 2014 with a BSN and is exploring options for graduate eduction.

Ms. Friebel also shared the following information about Wanda June Humphrey and the Nursing Scholarship.  Wanda June Humphrey graduated from Shelby High School in 1942.  She went right into war work at the former Autocall plant.  In 1947, she started attending Mansfield General School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse in 1950.  Not long after she passed her state board exam, she signed up with the Navy.  She was never on a ship the entire six years.  She was a general nurse and often worked in dependents’ wards, which is where the families of service members were treated.  While at St. Alban’s Navy Hospital on Long Island, New York,  she decided six years was enough and came home to Shelby.  She went to work at Shelby Memorial Hospital as an operating nurse.  She wanted to work in the operating room since she started nursing school.  At Shelby, she got her wish and spent 26 years as an OR nurse.  “I really enjoyed nursing, it was hard work, but very rewarding and had a lot of fun” she said.  On December 31, 1983 she retired. Wanda has been blessed with opportunities and memories through her nursing career and wants to share her passion through granting continuing education scholarships for registered nurses. 

Applicants for the Wanda June Humphrey Nursing Scholarship must hold an active Registered Nurse license in the State of Ohio, reside in Richland County, and be employed while attending school.  The first scholarship was awarded in 2010. 

Dominican Republic - Medical Mission Trip

Ashland University nursing students traveled to the Dominican Republic March 9-13, 2013 on a medical mission trip.  Lisa Young, organized the trip through the Ashland University Religious Life Department and Partner’s in Christ, an organization already serving in the Dominican Republic.  

Back Row: Michele Funk, Steven Chittenden, Lisa Young, Dr. Aaron Young, Joe Maggelet   
Front Row:  Alyssa Coley, Danielle Hart, Cole Hunter, Rachel Brown, Tiffiny Ellenberger
(Not pictured: Miriah Keller)

 

The first part of the week was spent in Juan Tomas where the team worked side-by-side with the people already serving in this area.   Students teamed up with interpreters and completed initial assessments.  Following an assessment, the Dominican people would then see one of the physicians, Dr. Aaron Young (Lisa’s brother), Johanna (a Dominican doctor), or Lisa Young (Advanced Practice Nurse).    Approximately 670 people were seen at the clinic in those 3 days.  The team also spent two days at a clinic in Mal Nambre where they saw over 350 people.    

There was a great need for medical assistance and supplies in this area.  The team took almost 8,000 Vitamins and 10,000 tablets of Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen, all of which were gone by the end of the week.  The Dominican people were greatly appreciative of these little things that we often take for granted in the US.  The team also purchased anti-parasitics to give to the people.  Infection was a common problem and was frequently seen in tonsils, ears, and wounds.  

 

At the end of the week, the AU team shared gifts from the people in the states with the children in the mission school in Juan Tomas.  They distributed coloring books and crayons to the younger children, hygiene packs to the high school, and Children’s New Testaments (donated by Temple Christian School) to the fifth to seventh graders.   Nursing students also gave antiparasitic medication to approximately 100 of the school children.  

The mission trip concluded with a trip to Colonial City where students shopped and learned more about the Dominican Republic culture.  The AU team was sad to leave the Dominican Republic people.  They will always treasure the friendships that were made, the unforgettable experiences they had, and the knowledge gained while serving in the Dominican Republic.  

Ashland University Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences
1020 S. Trimble Road Mansfield, Ohio 44906

Phone 419-521-6800