Tinley Park resident awarded scholarship from Silver Cross

The Silver Cross Foundation recently awarded $24,000 in scholarships to 13 hospital employees and 2 scholarships to children of Silver Cross employees to help further their education.

“Silver Cross is pleased to provide assistance to our motivated employees and children for continuing their education,” says Paul Pawlak, President/CEO of Silver Cross Hospital.

Doris Hubbs, R.N. Nursing Alumnae Scholarship

Recently, the Will-Grundy County Medical Society donated over $8,500 to the Doris Hubbs Nursing Alumnae Scholarship fund at Silver Cross Hospital, which provided additional scholarships to advance the hospital’s nursing education program. “This gift was meant to recognize the commitment and care that nurses bring as they help doctors with patient care in Will and Grundy counties,” stated President of the Will-Grundy County Medical Society Dr. Thomas Hurley, who is a neurosurgeon on staff at Silver Cross Hospital.

This scholarship was created in 2003 by the Silver Cross Nursing Alumnae Association to commemorate its centennial anniversary and support individuals interested in a career in nursing.  The scholarship is awarded annually to a Silver Cross employee accepted to or currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate registered nursing program or nursing certificate program.  

Joliet resident Noel Dobrowolski, Joliet resident Tara Heninger, New Lenox resident Reda Kubilius, Plainfield resident Tryniti Metz, and Plainfield resident Kimberly Perona are each the recipient of a $2,000 Doris Hubbs Nursing Alumnae Scholarship. 

Noel Dobrowolski has been with Silver Cross for two years, most currently as a menu clerk in the Nutrition Services Department.  She is accepted at the University of St. Francis to their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program.

Tara Heninger has been with Silver Cross for over one year, most currently as a certified nursing assistant/unit clerk and nursery technician in the Woman and Infant Services Department.  She is accepted at Joliet Junior College to their Nursing program.

Reda Kubilius has been with Silver Cross for one year, most currently as a registered nurse on the 5:2 and 5:3 patient care units.  She is accepted at the University of St. Francis to their Master of Science in Nursing program.

Tryniti Metz has been with Silver Cross for one year, most currently as a sitter in the Nursing Administration Department.  She is accepted at Joliet Junior College to their Nursing program.

Kimberly Perona has been with Silver Cross for one year, most currently as a registered nurse on the 4:3 patient care unit. She is accepted at Purdue University - Calumet to their RN to BSN program.

Donna and Jim Galligan Scholarship

Channahon resident Michelle Weteska and Joliet resident Daniel Zelehovitis are both the recipients of a $1,000 Donna and Jim Galligan Scholarship.  This award was funded by Donna and Jim Galligan, longtime Joliet residents and devoted supporters of Silver Cross Hospital.

Michelle Weteska has been with Silver Cross for a total of 10 years, currently serving as a registered nurse in the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago’s inpatient rehabilitation unit at Silver Cross and is pursuing her RN to BSN degree from Lewis University.

Daniel Zelehovitis has been with Silver Cross for five years, currently serving as a registered nurse at the Silver Cross Free-Standing Emergency Care Center in Homer Glen and is pursuing his Masters of Science in Nursing degree from the University of St. Francis.

Frances M. Thomas Nursing Scholarships

Burbank resident Christine Beach and New Lenox resident Kiely Witte are each the recipient of a $500 Frances M. Thomas Nursing Scholarship. 

In memoriam, the Silver Cross Emergency Department started a scholarship in 1991 to assist those entering the nursing profession.  The scholarship is named for former Silver Cross Emergency Department Registered Nurse Frances Thomas and is awarded to assist with tuition and expenses. 

Christine Beach has been with Silver Cross for five years, currently serving as a certified nursing assistant in the Pediatrics department and is pursuing her Nursing degree from Moraine Valley Community College.

Kiely Witte has been with Silver Cross for two years, currently serving as a certified nurse assistant/unit clerk on the 4:3  patient care unit and is pursuing her nursing degree from Joliet Junior College.

Keyton H. Nixon Scholarship

Tinley Park resident Jane Pomranky is the 2013 recipient of the $1,000 Keyton H. Nixon Scholarship.  This scholarship, named after former Silver Cross President Keyton Nixon, is awarded annually to a Silver Cross employee who is pursuing graduate studies in healthcare.

Jane Pomranky has been with Silver Cross for over one year, currently serving as a registered nurse on the 4:1 patient care unit.  She is enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Frontier Nursing University.

Physician’s Legacy Scholarship

Joliet resident Nicholas Dinoffria, New Lenox resident Ryan Futterer and Crest Hill resident Monica Zupancic are each the recipient of a $2,000 Physician’s Legacy Scholarship.  This scholarship has deep roots intertwined through the history of the organization. The Physician Legacy Grant transitioned from the previously known Medical Staff Grant. The name “Physician Legacy Scholarship” was created because of the Medical Executive Board’s desire to acknowledge physicians legacy of service and commitment to Silver Cross.

Nicholas Dinoffria has been with Silver Cross for two years and is currently serving as a paramedic/technician in the Emergency Department.  He is currently enrolled at Joliet Junior College studying for his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology as a pre-requisite for medical school.

Ryan Futterer has been with Silver Cross for over five years and is currently serving as a certified nurse assistant and unit clerk in the Intensive Care Unit.  She is currently attending Kankakee Community College in the Associate in Applied Science to become a respiratory therapist.

Monica Zupancic has been with Silver Cross for eight years and is currently serving as a technologist in the Nuclear Medicine Department.  She is enrolled at South Suburban College in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) program.

Physicians Legacy Scholarship – Children of Employees:

Morris resident Brynna Borgra, and New Lenox resident Victoria McNichols, are each the recipient of a $2,000 Physician’s Legacy Scholarship for children of Silver Cross employees. 

Brynna is the daughter of Cindy Borgra, R.N., who works in the hospital’s Women and Infant Services department.  Brynna is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Victoria is the daughter of Patrice McNichols, R.N., who works in the hospital’s Behavioral Health Services department.  Victoria is currently pursuing a degree in Biomedical Science at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

To learn more about any of these scholarships, call the Silver Cross Foundation at (815) 740-7105.