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Meet our grant Recipients...

2012 Recipient: Chloe Ann Warehall

My family has been dedicated to medicine and serving veterans for generations. Even those who were not enlisted served our veterans, such as my maternal uncle, Carl Frederick Coolbaugh, who was a drug addiction therapist at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Loma Linda, CA for 22 years. My grandmother was a registered nurse who was also active as a Military Officer's wife in the Officer's Club.


2011 Recipient: Tennel Manson, Nevada

School: University of Phoenix
Qualifications: I am writing this letter to request an opportunity to be considered as the 2012 Veterans Grant recipient. I come from a long background of veterans, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and sisters who are currently or have served in the military.

My father is retired US Navy who served several tours overseas, including The Gulf Wars. My father spent several years stationed in Southern California at NAS Miramar while I was growing up. He was often deployed at sea six months out of twelve, transferring from ship to ship so that we were able to stay in one location. He spent time on the USS Ranger, USS Constellation, USS Enterprise and the USS Eisenhower. Among the many places my father was deployed were the Philippines, Hawaii specifically Pearl Harbor, Turkey, Dubai, Japan, Israel and Pakistan. During the Gulf Wars my fathers' ship was located off the coast of Turkey, Israel and Pakistan. After the Gulf War he was deployed on a mission to recover and diffuse mines that had been placed in the Indian Ocean. My father spent 26 years as an enlisted member of the US Navy and eventually retired with two Navy Accommodation medals for distinguished service during peace and war time operations.

I myself served in the Air Force for almost four years. My duty assignment was in Misawa, Japan. I spent several years at Misawa Air Base as an Aerospace Ground Equipment Engineer. I worked on the flight line equipment that was used to power up, supply and fix the aircraft. After September 11, 2001 many members of our Air Base were assigned to go to the Middle East to aid in war efforts. I was reassigned to the security forces where I inspected vehicles for bombs and other explosive devices.

While also at Misawa AB, Japan I met my husband who is currently active duty and stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV. He has been serving in the US Air Force for over eighteen years and has progressed his way to the rank of a Master Sergeant. His tours of duty include Florida, South Carolina, Turkey, Japan, Prince Sultan Air Base and Texas. Recently, returning from a year's mission in South Korea. My husband is also currently enrolled in Masters Program pursuing a degree in engineering.

While serving in the Air Force I was fortunate enough to have a supervisor to encourage me to pursue an education. I enrolled in school and completed several general education courses while still active duty. I decided not to reenlist but to pursue a full time education. I moved forward and chose nursing as my profession because I wanted to continue to serve other people. Since graduating and becoming an RN I have had a great since of accomplishment and feeling of reward. I have always known that I did not want to just stop at the first level of nursing, but finish all the way through. A BSN will help me to gain more clinical knowledge and better leadership skills. Upon completing my BSN I would like to continue with school to pursue a Masters in Healthcare Administration.

If I am chosen as the grant recipient it would not only benefit me, but my family as well. I believe the best model of behavior is to lead by example.


2010 Recipient: Elizabeth Morgan Wiley, Cloverdale, IN

Elizabeth Morgan Wiley, a student of ISU School of nursing, has been chosen as their year's recipient of the nursing/veteran scholarship, which is sponsored by Dr. Brar. Elizabeth will be awarded $10,000 per year toward her educational expenses.

Elizabeth earned the grant on the merits of her grandfathers, John A. Wiley and Arthur A. Atwell who served our country in the US military.

Arthur A. Atwell, her maternal grandfather served in the U.S. Army from December 1951 to December 1953. His basic training took place at Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii. He was transferred to Breckenridge, Kentucky, to Fort Lewis, Washington, then on to Korea where he fought in the Korean War. He was in the infantry and fought on the frontline. He was there until the truce was signed in 1953. He returned to Fort Sheridan, Illinois from where he was discharged.

John A. Wiley, her paternal grandfather served in the U.S. Army from May 1960 to May 1962. His basic training took place in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was transferred to Ft. Dix, New Jersey and on to Augsburg, Germany. He served in the 24th Battalion, the 34th Infantry during the Berlin Conflict, serving in the motor pool, mortars, and Unit Police. He returned to Ft. Hamilton, New York from where he was discharged.


2009 Recipient: Rachel Barrier, Cloverdale, IN

School: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Community Service: Volunteer at Grace Community Bible Church
Goals: Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing
Qualifications: I am currently a Registered Nurse working in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Riley Hospital for Children. I am also the proud wife of an Airman in the United States Air Force. Both of the aforementioned jobs I take very seriously and accept with much pride and happiness. I also happen to be currently enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington completing coursework towards obtaining my Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Any one of the above listed roles can be both challenging and rewarding. More importantly to me, they all have something to do with service. As a nurse, service is something that is a huge part of what I do each day at work. I willingly care for and assist ill and grieving children and families. As a student, I am actively bettering myself for service in the future as a more knowledgeable and educated member of the medical team. Again, for me, perhaps the most important of these service themed roles is not that of my doing, but of my husband's doing; service to our great country.

My husband, Seth, is in his third year of service in the Air Force. He is currently away from home on a one year tour of duty in South Korea. Each day he lives away from the comforts of our home to defend and protect our rights and freedoms. The sacrifices that he makes each day not only affect our marriage and our lives, but the future of our nation. Were it not for him and the other members of our military, neither you nor I might be able to live the way in which we do without fear or other consequence. At times, I feel overwhelmed and unable to continue on the busy path with which I have chosen.

Being that I am the wife of a deployed service member, a full time nurse and nearly a full time student, I find little time for myself or as it may seem at times; to take a breath. These are the times, however, that I appreciate my husband and the servicemen and women of my country the most. Even in the most difficult times, we must remember there are always Americans serving this great nation at home and far away. Even when we find no time for ourselves, we must also remember we are with our family and friends. Our military members are often sacrificing that special time with loved ones and regularly spend holidays and birthdays far from their homes. Some of our military even make the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives for our country. Many members have made this sacrifice and it is likely there will be more in the future. As a nurse, the value of a life does not ever go unnoticed or underappreciated. It is for these reasons, that I have the utmost respect and undying gratitude for the armed forces.

I appreciate these sacrifices furthermore as many members of my family have served in the military in the past. In addition to my husband's service the following people have served this country proudly and received various awards and recognition as a result of their service: My stepfather, William Kerr, Unites States Marine Corps, 25+ years and service in Vietnam; my grandfather, Kenneth Kennedy, United States Navy, served on a submarine at Pearl Harbor; my great-grandfather, Eric Lotz, United States Army, Colonel in the Pacific Theatre during WW II; and my great-uncle, Walter Lashbrook, United States Army, stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-day June 6th, 1944.

I find much happiness in my job as a registered nurse. I feel the care I give my patients is a way for me to serve and give back to others in my community. I find great satisfaction and reward in being there for others in their time of need. Trauma and illness are things that none of us would ever choose to experience in life. Life, however, is what happens to us when those things strike ourselves and our family members. If during that difficult time, I can help to alleviate pain, lighten the load, be a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen then I have done my job. In doing such things, I have rewarded myself ten-fold and know that I have made a difference in a human life and possibly have given someone a better experience in the world of healthcare. It is my hope that you too will find my education and plans for future endeavors to be worthy of your selection. I also hope you consider me as a recipient for this important scholarship so I might continue to serve my patients in the same manner as those that selflessly serve this country.

2008 Recipient: Grace Imburgia, Elgin, IL

School: University of Illinois at Chicago
Community Service: Volunteer at Grace Community Bible Church
Goals: To become a registered nurse that provides outstanding patient care.
Qualifications: I believe that I am a great candidate for this scholarship because I have always been instilled with a heart of compassion for those in need. I would love to be able to give back to the community, especially as the shortage of nurses continues to increase.

My father John has been a hero and inspiration to me and many others for his years of service to the military and our country. My father was a marine in the Vietnam War. He was only 19 when he left for Vietnam, and stayed there for a year. During his time, he achieved several metals-the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, National Defense Service metal, Vietnamese Service Metal, and Good Conduct Metal.

Nothing would make my father more proud than for his daughter to become a nurse because of all the nurses that helped him and his fellow servicemen in their time of need.

2007 Recipient: Katherine Mummert, Speedway, IN

School: Purdue University
Community Service: Patriot Guard Riders, and Tutor and Mentor programs at Speedway High School.
Awards/Achievements: National Honor Society; 8 semesters-Superior Honor Roll; Co-captain (2 yrs)-varsity volleyball, Mental Attitude Award; All-conference volleyball.
Goals: To become a nurse
Qualifications: I would be an excellent candidate for this grant because being a veteran seems to be a Mummert family trait. My two brothers are Iraqi Freedom veterans; my father is a veteran from the Viet Nam era; my grandfather was a WW II combat vet, and my great-grandfather was a Spanish-American War vet. We are an extremely patriotic family.

When my brothers were overseas at war, our entire family became involved with support groups and military functions. This resulted in my father and me becoming members of the Patriot Guard Riders-a motorcycle organization that attends funerals of fallen soldiers and acts as honor guard/escort for the funeral procession. These fallen heroes deserve no less than our total reverence, thus we feel compelled to show their families our appreciation and share in their grief.

My family also believes in the value of higher education. Because I am personally responsible for half of my total college expenses, your grant would be extremely welcome and appreciated.