Donor-Funded Scholarships Provide Vital Support for Students
September 19, 2021
Scholarships at Mercy College of Health Sciences help students like Rich Rosendahl and Sheri Digiacinto become successful health care professionals.
Rich and Sheri are married, and both are starting nursing as a second career. They are currently enrolled in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Mercy College.
“We are Des Moines locals, so being able to attend college right here and work in the hospitals here in our community was a big draw,” said Rich.
Rich and Sheri are enjoying their time at Mercy College and feel they have learned a lot from their professors while in lab and on clinical rotations.
“I think a lot of the Mercy College staff have done an excellent job making sure we are as prepared as possible to add to the nursing workforce, which is incredibly necessary right now,” said Rich.
“Lisa Martin in particular has been a phenomenal instructor. She has taught us about the skills we need and also teaches us how to be empathetic throughout the process,” said Sheri.
“In my clinicals, I got the opportunity to work with a previous Mercy College graduate who has been one of the greatest teachers I’ve had,” said Rich. “They took their time to help me learn and grow as a student to someday come alongside them in the workforce to be the best nurse I can be.”
Previously, Rich and Sheri ran a non-profit where they provided humanitarian aid overseas in refugee camps.
“With me focusing more on the acute care side of nursing and Sheri on mental health, we are hoping to bring both of these aspects back into our non-profit work,” said Rich.
Rich and Sheri both received the Mercy College of Health Sciences Presidential Scholarship last term. Thanks to the generosity of numerous donors, the college is able to award more than $300,000 a year in scholarships to students of merit and in financial need.
Contributions made to the general scholarships fund, or to one of the many endowed scholarship funds, directly impact students and help them continue with their education.
“When you are struggling to go to college, the lack of financial resources can be stressful, and it can also have an effect on your learning,” said Rich. “Those dollars aren’t just dollars to save on loans, they are a direct impact on our lives as we go through college.”
“There is such a vital need right now for health care workers in every field,” said Sheri. “Dollars given in support of scholarships help students, our community, our country, and our world.”
Rich and Sheri are grateful for the donors who made receiving their scholarship possible, and hope others will support Mercy College students through the scholarship fund.
“Scholarships are more than financially helping students get through college,” said Sheri.
“This is a direct community impact,” said Rich.
Funds raised through this year’s Annual Campaign will support students like Rich and Sheri achieve their dreams of becoming great health care professionals. You can impact students’ lives today through the Annual Campaign by visiting MercyOne.org/desmoines/give.
If you would like more information on the Annual Campaign and how you can get involved, please contact MercyOne Des Moines Foundation Director of Annual Events and Giving, Megan Mildenberger at 515-643-8038 or mmildenberger@mercydesmoines.org.
For more information on how you can support Mercy College of Health Science students, please contact MercyOne Des Moines Foundation Senior Director of Development Joan Bindel at 515-643-8020 or jbindel@mercydesmoines.org.
