VNA Awards Scholarship To Jennifer Ober

The Newtown Visiting Nurse Association/Mary M. Holian Scholarship for Returning Students has been awarded to Jennifer Ober of Westwood Terrace in Newtown.

The $2,000 scholarship from the VNA was presented to Jennifer by Mary Holian at a luncheon given in their honor and attended by Mae Schmidle, VNA president, and the scholarship committee: Margareta Kotch, Ruth Kirkwood, Liz Meyers, and Sally Schwerdtle, chairman.

Jennifer Ober is one of the outstanding young women in nursing who is completing her masters degree of nursing with a concentration in adult health, to become a nurse practitioner. She is a graduate of Fairfield University and is currently studying at Western Connecticut State University. Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses who have advanced academic and clinical experience that qualifies them to provide nursing and medical services, primarily in health promotion and disease prevention.

Jennifer Ober is currently employed by the Bethel Visiting Nurse Association. She lives in Newtown with her husband, Gary, and their three daughters, Bethany, Mary Grace, and Claire.

The Newtown VNA/Mary M. Holian Scholarship is awarded to individuals who live in Newtown and are returning to study for a nursing degree as a registered nurse (RN), a BSN (bachelor of science in nursing), MSN (masters degree in nursing), or nurse practitioner (NP). The applicant must be entering the second year of training, provided she/he has completed the first year within the last five years. Selection is based on interest in the nursing profession, personality, scholarship, financial need, and upon the recommendation of a faculty advisor or dean.

The scholarship was established in 1988 in honor of Mary M. Holian for her dedication and leadership in the field of public health nursing in Newtown and the State of Connecticut.  Mary Holian has served on the Newtown VNA Board for 30 years, nine of those as president.  She is a charter member and past president of the state organization Association of Community Health Care Service Agencies (ACHCA).

Mrs Holian is responsible for the establishment of many of the Newtown VNA programs, including the well child conferences, the scholarship programs, and the consortium with the Danbury VNA to provide services to Newtown. She continues to be a member of the Newtown VNA board.  She is a graduate of Albertus Magnus College, and was a teacher for many years in area schools. 

The VNA also awards a $4,000 VNA/Anna E. Clow scholarship to graduating seniors from Newtown who intend to pursue the nursing profession.

Information regarding the scholarships is available by contacting Sally Schwerdtle, 203/268-8333.