Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin Foundation and the Wisconsin League for Nursing Award More than $25,000 in Nursing Scholarships

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty-five Wisconsin nursing students will benefit from more than $25,000 in scholarships awarded today by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin Foundation (BCBSWi), and the Wisconsin League for Nursing (WLN). BCBSWi Foundation is the charitable giving arm of WellPoint, Inc. in Wisconsin. The scholarships, ranging from $500-$1,000 each, were awarded to students pursuing a licensed practical nursing (LPN) degree or registered nursing (RN) degree at an accredited nursing college in the state. Students were selected based on scholastic ability, involvement in professional activities and/or community service, understanding of the nursing profession, definitive goals upon graduation, and financial need.

For more than 20 years, BCBSWi and the WLN have united to sponsor scholarship and recognition programs, including the previous Outstanding Nurses of the Year Awards. In 2004, the BCBSWi Foundation combined efforts with WLN to create a new nursing scholarship program designed to combat the critical nursing shortage and promote the importance of nursing in the health care industry to aspiring nurses across the state of Wisconsin.

"We are pleased to continue our relationship with the Wisconsin League for Nursing to offer this beneficial scholarship program for the second year," said Stuart K. Campbell, president and CEO of BCBSWi. "Our goal for this scholarship program is to make a positive impact on the critical nursing shortage and continue advancing the quality of nursing education in Wisconsin. Congratulations and thank you to each candidate for his/her continued efforts in making a difference in the health care industry."

The selected recipients of the nursing scholarships are: Anna Adelmeyer, Marian College of Fond du Lac Vanessa Anderson, Edgewood College Rebecca Areand, Carroll College Debra Bowman, Moraine Park Technical College Kia Cooper, Milwaukee Area Technical College Rana Dickson, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Danielle Drexler, Marquette University Andrea Glyzewski, Bellin College Tanya Gonzalez, Waukesha County Technical College Linda Kehring, Moraine Park Technical College Suann Mitchell, Moraine Park Technical College Raeann Nargiz, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Miranda Olson, Bellin College Laura Petermann, Bellin College Marcella Robinson, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Jessica Roelke, Edgewood College Janalynn Schaalma, Moraine Park Technical College Maria Schneider, Marquette University Michelle Stizman, Marian College of Fond du Lac Barbara Uhrich, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Margaret Wakefield, Carroll College Peggy Walters, Edgewood College Kristen Wiesner, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Melissa Wittstock, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College Melissa Wright, Lakeshore Technical College About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin Foundation

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin Foundation focuses on initiatives that will make health care more accessible and affordable, improve quality of care, support the development of health-related public policy, and help establish best practices in medicine. The Foundation focuses on developing social investment programs and partnering with nonprofit public charities whose projects and programs closely align with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin's health care priorities.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin Foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Established in 1952, the Wisconsin League for Nursing (WLN) has a unique position among nursing organizations in the state. In addition to nurses, its membership includes individuals and organizations who are not part of the nursing profession but want to promote the role of nurses in the health care profession. WLN can be found on the web at http://www.cuw.edu/wln