The Ripley County Community Foundation is honored every year to recognize the hard work and dedication it takes to be a nursing student. This year at our Annual Dinner we presented four Nursing Scholarships to our future nurses.
Scholarships Supporting Nursing Students
Calli Fletcher, a 2024 graduate of Batesville High School and current nursing student at Mount Saint Joseph University, was awarded three nursing scholarships totaling $3,600.
Fletcher received the Doris A. Brelage Memorial Nursing Scholarship, established in 2008 in honor of Doris Brelage, a dedicated nurse and EMS member who faithfully served Margaret Mary Health for 37 years as Director of Nursing, Manager of Surgical Nursing, and Infection Control Practitioner. Fletcher received $1,100 from this scholarship.
Fletcher was also awarded the Riley Duerstock Nursing Scholarship in the amount of $1,500. Established in 2023, the scholarship honors the memory of Riley Duerstock, a natural caregiver who served as a medical intern in Ghana at just 16 years old and pursued a nursing degree at the University of Indianapolis. Even in her final act of generosity, Riley became an organ donor.
In addition, Fletcher received a $1,000 MarySue Luhring-Knisley Nursing Scholarship. Established in 2023, this scholarship honors MarySue’s caring nature, generosity, and exceptional listening skills. MarySue earned multiple professional credentials, including RN, BSN, MBA, MSN, and CLNC, and built a successful career as both a nurse and medical compliance consultant.
Two other students received MarySue Luhring-Knisley Nursing Scholarships. Emma Leap, a 2024 graduate of Greensburg High School who is attending Indiana University Bloomington, received a $500 scholarship. Lanie Narwold, a 2026 graduate of Jac-Cen-Del High School, received a $500 scholarship and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing this fall.
In addition to her MarySue Luhring-Knisley Nursing Scholarship, Lanie Narwold was awarded the J. Michael Hansen, M.D. Scholarship in the amount of $5,000. This scholarship honors the legacy of Dr. J. Michael Hansen, who deeply appreciated the nurses with whom he worked throughout his medical career. He recognized that skilled and compassionate nurses are essential to quality healthcare, serving as patient advocates, clinical experts, and trusted partners in care delivery.
The Ripley County Community Foundation congratulates these outstanding students as they continue their education and prepare for careers dedicated to caring for others. To donate to any of these nursing scholarships or any of our many scholarships or learn more about how you can create opportunities in your community, visit our office at 13 E. George St., Suite B in Batesville, IN 47006. Contact us at (812) 933-1098 or office@rccfonline.org with any questions or to learn more about our scholarships. Scholarships are one way that we are Connecting People Who Care with Causes that Matter.
