Three freshmen were named recipients of the 2023 Bruce V. Penwell Jr. Nursing Scholarship. Kaitlyn Hogue of Shelby County, Sierra Richards of Christian County, and Cortney Brummer of Effingham County all won the scholarships. 

Hogue will be a freshman pursuing her nursing degree at Lake Land College.  Richards will be a freshman pursuing a nursing degree at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.  Cortney Brummer will be a freshman at Greenville University pursuing a nursing degree. 

Bruce V. Penwell Jr. Nursing Scholarship provides scholarships to residents pursuing a nursing degree in Effingham, Shelby, and Christian Counties.  Penwell was born in Pana and graduated from Beecher City. Penwell attended the U of I Urbana-Champaign and worked in sales and marketing in the animal health industry.  

Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation manages more than 200 funds for the immediate and long-term benefit of communities in southeastern Illinois.