Recipients of the Inaugural VMRC Mary Reitz Nursing Scholarship Announced
Three talented and determined individuals stood out from among 42 aspiring nurses to receive funds through the VMRC Mary Reitz Nursing Scholarship. Kashif Polous-Masih and Daniela Montero Ruiz, both Certified Nursing Assistants at VMRC, and Faith Sisler, who will enter Eastern Mennonite University in the fall, are the first to receive this award.
While the experiences that inspired them to pursue a nursing career differ, they are similar in their desire to care for people facing their most vulnerable moments. The VMRC Foundation is proud to award Daniela, Kashif, and Faith each up to $30,000, which will be directed to the schools they plan to attend.
“We are thrilled to support these outstanding scholarship recipients as they pursue their educational goals in nursing,” says Joe Hackman, VMRC’s Chief Philanthropy Officer. “Their passion and dedication inspire us, and we look forward to the incredible impact they will make, not only here at VMRC, but throughout the greater Shenandoah Valley. They represent the future of compassionate, high-quality care, and we’re honored to be part of their journey.”
As Virginia’s population ages and healthcare demands rise, supporting nursing education and retention is crucial. Generous donors who recognized this need made the scholarship possible. The Mary Reitz Nursing Scholarship stands as a catalyst, encouraging more VMRC staff members and community members to deepen their clinical expertise and fill the nursing roles needed now and well into the future.
The scholarship winners were selected by a five-person review committee that included Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, Robyn Hill of Hess Financial, Debra Glick King, a community leader who serves on VMRC’s Governance and Foundation Boards, and VMRC leaders Rebecca Kline, Joe Hackman and Thomas Stallings.
The Mary Reitz Nursing Scholarship is named for longtime VMRC resident Mary Reitz, who taught for 35 years as a nurse educator at Massanutten Technical Center, RMH School of Nursing and Lancaster General School of Nursing. The opening of the scholarship was announced earlier this year. It was designed to boost the nursing workforce at VMRC and throughout Harrisonburg and surrounding counties.
