Friends of SSM St. Joseph Auxiliary Giving Goes a Long Way

Published: 09/04/2012

In the five years since the Friends of SSM St. Joseph Auxiliary Nursing Scholarship was established at SCC, it has provided $30,000 in scholarships, benefitting 14 nursing students. “We are thrilled to give scholarships to local nursing students who will end up working in our community,” said Karen Zerr, member of the Friends of SSM St. Joseph Auxiliary.

The auxiliary, founded in 1935, has provided scholarships in the community since 1991. However, the process of promoting and awarding scholarships eventually became too much for the group to handle alone. That’s when they turned to SCC.

The Friends of SSM St. Joseph Auxiliary gives three $1,000 scholarships annually to SCC nursing students. But since the SCC Foundation matches civic and volunteer organizations’ scholarship donations, their money goes twice as far. “It’s a win-win for everyone,” Zerr said.

As a retired nurse, Zerr knows nursing is more than just a job. “We believe SCC nursing students are fully invested and will someday make wonderful nurses,” she said. “It makes us feel good to know we are furthering their education.”

This story was published in SCC's 2011-12 Annual Report.