Student nurses advance skills with scholarships through Parkview Health Foundation

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. - July 15, 2026 - Two student nurses aspiring to further their training have received a boost to their plans as they pursue their nursing education this fall.

Both have been selected to receive scholarships through Parkview Health Foundation as part of its 2026 scholarship program supporting healthcare education across northeast Indiana.

"These scholarships are an investment in the future of healthcare across our region," said Denise Andorfer, director, Parkview Health Foundation. "Through the generosity of donors and community supporters, we are able to help students and healthcare professionals continue their education and strengthen care for the communities we serve."

The Schultz Award - $1,000
Jayden Forrester, student nurse assistant, is a co-worker in Parkview Whitley Hospital's (PWH) Emergency Department. She is working on her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Indiana University Fort Wayne. Participating in Parkview's Student Nurse Apprentice Program (SNAP), which prepares BSN and ASN students to transition into practice as registered nurses, Forrester has appreciated the opportunity to get crucial clinical experience and find motivation to further develop her skills.

Reflecting on her current path, Forrester said, "Obtaining a BSN will help me better understand the complexities of healthcare, including community health, interprofessional communication and leadership. I am committed to applying what I learn in the classroom to improving patient outcomes and continuing to be part of a supportive environment for both patients and co-workers."

Tessa Tonkel, student nurse technician, is also a co-worker in PWH's Emergency Department. She is pursuing her BSN through Indiana University in Bloomington while taking advantage of Parkview's SNAP program.

According to Jenna Elkins, Tonkel's nurse leader, "Tessa is hardworking, dependable and always eager to learn. Balancing the demands of nursing school while working requires discipline, which she consistently shows. She is deeply committed to serving others and making her education a priority."

The Schultz Award is part of a program to promote excellence in healthcare made possible through the generosity of donors and administered by Parkview Health Foundation.

George Schultz, for whom the scholarship is named, was a native of Whitley County who lived his final year in the hospital. It was during this period that he learned about the different healthcare degrees that are available to providers and how important it is for them to continue their educational endeavors. Schultz believed that motivating healthcare providers to improve their educational standing would, in turn, help build their self-esteem and create a better community.

In 2026, the foundation awarded 34 scholarships totaling $104,000 to students and healthcare professionals across Parkview Health's service area. Scholarship winners are selected annually. Each scholarship is carefully managed by its own committee comprising Parkview leaders and foundation representatives, family members and colleagues of scholarship namesakes.

Learn more about supporting healthcare education assistance through Parkview Health Foundation. Visit donate.parkview.com.

About Parkview Health Foundation

Since 1878, charitable giving has helped make exceptional care possible at Parkview Health. The Parkview Health Foundation stewards philanthropic support to benefit patients and the broader community by enhancing the patient experience through comfort, access and healing.

Gifts to the Foundation make a direct, meaningful impact-from helping patients overcome barriers to lifesaving care, to supporting scholarships that educate the next generation of Parkview caregivers, to advancing research that improves health care across the region and beyond.

The Parkview Health Foundation plays a critical role in strengthening Parkview Health's ability to deliver expert, specialized care to patients in Indiana and northwest Ohio, ensuring a healthier future for the communities it serves. For more information, visit parkview.com/parkview-health-foundation.