Three local students have been awarded the 2025 Bruce V. Penwell, Jr. Nursing Scholarship, helping them take the next step in their healthcare careers.
This year’s recipients are Isabelle Anderson, who will begin her nursing studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; Marisa Daniels, a sophomore at Three Rivers College; and Leo Niemerg, a junior at Quincy University. All three are pursuing degrees in nursing.
The scholarship honors students from Effingham, Shelby, and Christian counties who are committed to the nursing profession and to serving their communities.
The fund was established in memory of Bruce V. Penwell, Jr., a Pana native and Beecher City High School graduate who maintained a lifelong passion for rural Illinois and its people.
The Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation manages the scholarship and more than 250 other charitable funds benefiting communities across the region.
