Local nurse receives a scholarship

(Left to right): Winneshiek Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Linda Klimesh, WMC RN Carol Voss and WMC Chief Administrative Officer Dan Werner

Winneshiek Medical Center registered nurse Carol Voss of Decorah has been awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation, which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). 

Voss, who is studying for her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at Upper Iowa University, is a second year recipient of the IHERF scholarship, having received $3,000 in 2010 to further her nursing education.  She is among 32 students from all over Iowa who have received assistance this year from the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program.

"When our nursing staff pursues further education, it exhilarates all our staff," says Winneshiek Medical Center chief nursing officer Linda Klimesh.  "Students like Carol share projects and class topics at work, bringing their learning inside WMC which promotes learning for us all."

Iowa hospitals established the scholarship program in 2004 to help address the ongoing shortage of health care professionals and encourage young Iowans to remain in the state.  The scholarship program offers students $3,000 per academic year, or a maximum of $6,000 over two years.  Over the program's first seven years, more than 200 students have benefited from IHERF scholarships and, including these latest awards, the scholarship program has provided $600,000 in direct support to students since its inception.