Jennifer Bowlin of Centre was recently awarded two distinguished nursing scholarships from Gadsden State Community College.
She received both the Clemis L. Bailey Nursing Scholarship and the Jerry L. Culberson Nursing Scholarship for $1,000 and $2,500 respectively.
Bowlin, a non-traditional student at Gadsden State Cherokee, decided to pursue a degree in nursing after spending much time in hospitals growing up with an ailing mother. “When she passed away, the doctors and nurses at UAB were great in helping my family cope with our loss,” Bowlin said. “I would like to have the opportunity to be there for someone else.”
A wife and mother, Bowlin maintains two jobs while attending school full-time. At Gadsden State Cherokee, she works in the Admissions Office through the Federal Work Study program. She is certain that these two scholarships will assist her in becoming what she describes as a great nurse once she completes the program. Bowlin’s Biology instructor, Frances Vann, describes her as extremely organized and a hard worker. “Her work ethic is superb,” Vann said.
Ed Bailey endowed the Clemis L. Bailey Nursing Scholarship in 2010 in memory of his wife of 45 years. The late Clemis Bailey was an avid volunteer in Cherokee County. Most notably, she volunteered at the Cherokee County Hospital as a Pink Lady where she gave more than 10,000 hours of volunteer service. The partial tuition scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis to a Cherokee County resident.
The Jerry L. Culberson Nursing Scholarship was established by the Cherokee County Health Authority in September 2012. Culberson, a retired administrator, is most noted for his leadership during the past 23 years in transforming the Cherokee County Health and Rehabilitation Center from a 53-bed nursing home to a 185-bed world class facility. This partial tuition scholarship is awarded to a deserving nursing student attending Gadsden State Cherokee. Recipients of both scholarships must have demonstrated academic excellence by maintaining a GPA of 3.0 in all courses attempted and completed toward the nursing degree and show financial need.
(Pictured left to right: Kelli Davis, nursing instructor; Jennifer Bowlin; and Luanne Hayes, Gadsden State Cherokee Director)