Mary Ella Ruff Nursing Scholarship presentation, from left: Connie Conner, Senior VP and Chief Nursing Officer; scholarship winner Adero Thomas of Greenwood; scholarship winner Kasey Holley of Ninety Six; Jim Pfeiffer, President and CEO; Ms. Ruff; scholarship winner Tracy Gonce of Ninety Six; Dr. Travis Stevenson, retired surgeon and member of the scholarship committee; scholarship winner Maci Kelley of Saluda; and scholarship winner Whitney Pough of Saluda.
(Originally published June 17, 2011.) This year’s five recipients of the Mary Ella Ruff Nursing Scholarship at Self Regional Healthcare were honored Friday at a luncheon hosted by the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation. The Mary Ella Ruff Nursing Scholarship is named in honor of Ms. Ruff (center) of Winnsboro, who served as a Self Regional nurse from 1947 to 1978. She has long been considered a nurse to emulate, delivering compassionate and quality nursing care, and worked every Christmas Day for 34 years.
On hand for the announcement of this year’s winners were, from left: Connie Conner, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer; scholarship winner Adero Thomas of Greenwood; scholarship winner Kasey Holley of Ninety Six; Jim Pfeiffer, President and Chief Executive Officer; Ms. Ruff; scholarship winner Tracy Gonce of Ninety Six; Dr. Travis Stevenson, retired surgeon and member of the scholarship committee; scholarship winner Maci Kelley of Saluda; and scholarship winner Whitney Pough of Saluda. “Enjoy your education and enjoy what you do,” Pfeiffer advised the future nurses. The scholarship is open to individuals planning to enroll in a certified nursing program, students currently in a nursing program or to a practicing nurse who wishes to advance his or her professional skills. Applications are accepted on an annual basis and winners are announced each spring.
Charlotte Blackwell Nursing Scholarship presentation, from left: Jim Pfeiffer, Self Regional President & CEO; scholarship winner Debra Tiller of Abbeville; John Paguntalan, Nurse Clinical Specialist and Nurse Practitioner who serves on the scholarship committee; scholarship winner Tracy Gonce of Ninety Six; and Connie Conner, Senior VP and Chief Nursing Officer at Self Regional.
The Self Regional Healthcare Foundation on Friday announced two winners of the Charlotte Blackwell Nursing Scholarship. The scholarship was created six years ago in memory of Mrs. Blackwell, a highly respected critical care nurse at Self Regional.
Pictured from left are: Jim Pfeiffer, Self Regional President & CEO; scholarship winner Debra Tiller of Abbeville; John Paguntalan, Nurse Clinical Specialist and Nurse Practitioner who serves on the scholarship committee; scholarship winner Tracy Gonce of Ninety Six; and Connie Conner, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Self Regional. “Nursing is more than just a job,” Mrs. Conner told the winners. “It’s a career.” With the advancement of care and technology, more and more career paths are open to nurses, she added. The scholarship is open to individuals planning to enroll in a certified nursing program, students currently in a nursing program or to a practicing nurse who wishes to advance his or her professional skills. Applications are accepted on an annual basis and winners are announced each spring.
