Bennett-Bushnell-Jones-Kaufman
The Bennett-Bushnell-Jones-Kaufman Scholarship was established in 2008 to honor the memory of Betty Jones Bennett, Helen Lucile Neathery Bushnell, Julie and Miranda Jones, and Julius Kaufman. The scholarship provides scholarships to nursing students at Danville Community College. The Scholarship was created by merging four previously formed scholarships held by the Piedmont Health Foundation to create one permanently endowed scholarship at The Community Foundation.
The original scholarships were:
Betty Jones Bennett Scholarship – The scholarship was established in honor of Betty Jones, Class of 1942, Stratford College, in recognition of her character and loyalty as a student, as an alumnae, and as a citizen. Ms. Jones was known for her gentleness, good manners, friendly attitude, cooperation, beauty and thoughtfulness of others. While attending Stratford College, she was elected Stratford’s Christmas Card Girl and in 1942, she was crowned May Queen. It was said that she looked like a fairy from The Land of Heart’s Desire. The scholarship was awarded to local students who were rising seniors, who possessed the qualities exemplified by Betty Jones Bennett and who had ambition and ability to succeed and thus be a credit to her school. Financial need was not a major consideration, but the quality of the individual. The scholarship was awarded since before 1961.
Helen Lucile Neathery Bushnell Memorial Award (pictured) – The Helen Lucile Neathery Bushnell Memorial Award was established in 2001 by Bonnie Bushnell in memory of her mother Helen Bushnell. The late Helen Lucile Neathery Bushnell was a 1938 graduate of the Danville Regional Medical Center School of Nursing and a recipient of the prestigious Julius Kaufman Memorial Prize. Mrs. Bushnell used the award to finance her trip to Richmond to take the State Board of Nursing Examination. As a result, she knew the importance of financial assistance for nursing students. During her long nursing career, Mrs. Bushnell served in many capacities including Captain in the Nursing Corps of the United States Army during World War II. She was also instrumental in establishing a new base hospital in Alaska. The original 2001 requirements were to be awarded at graduation to a rising senior at Danville Regional Medical Center School of Nursing. The recipient was selected based on the following criteria: financial need; community service; leadership ability; GPA of 3.0; perseverance and determination to succeed; enthusiasm, caring, compassion and willingness to help others.
Julie and Miranda Jones Memorial Award – The award was made possible through a gift from Michael D. Jones, husband of Julie and father of Miranda. Julie was a student at the School of Nursing in 1996 when she and her daughter, Miranda, were the victims of a fatal car accident. The award was made to a rising senior at Danville Regional Medical Center School of Nursing based upon the following criteria: preferably a single parent and/or living on his/her own, work while attending school, maintain a GPA of 3.0, attend Danville Community College for the required educational courses, and demonstrate enthusiasm, caring, compassion, and a willingness to help others.
Julius Kaufman Memorial Award – The prize comes from a trust fund set up originally May 16, 1919 by Mrs. Kaufman in memory of her husband, Julius Kaufman. Both he and Mrs. Kaufman served on the hospital board of directors and were much interested in the School of Professional Nursing. The prize was awarded for many years to nursing graduates and those who had completed courses in the Schools of Medical Technology and Radiologic Technology. It was awarded on the basis of general excellence both in practical nursing and in medical study classes and was given annually to the "best all round nurse.” Nursing school graduates were judged on theoretical ability, care of patients, ability to get along with others, leadership, professional qualities and general character. The prize represented the interest on the trust fund and was awarded to one appointed nurse.