The Oberly-Allen Endowment for Nursing Scholarships was established to further the continuing education of Good Shepherd’s nurses in honor of the legacy of D. Estella Raker who founded Good Shepherd with her husband, the Rev. John Raker. Estella’s legacy was consistently modeled by head nurses Elizabeth Oberly and Evelyn Allen during their tenure, inspiring countless nurses at Good Shepherd.
Scholarships are granted annually from the donor supported Oberly-Allen Nursing Scholarship endowment. Good Shepherd proudly extended the awards to include therapy scholarships in 2021.
Established in memory of two distinguished Good Shepherd directors of nursing, Elizabeth Oberly and Evelyn Allen, who have been role models of excellence in nursing to many throughout the decades they served.
2021 Recipient: Robin Hampton, RN
Previous Recipients: Ryan P. Stocum, Kimberly Livigne, Bhairavi Patel, Donna Miller, Tamatha Urffer, Connie Salvador
Given by the Allen family in loving memory of their wife and mother, Evelyn T. Allen, for whom the nursing endowment was named. Evelyn was employed as an R.N. in several hospitals in New Jersey, then spent many years as a C.R.R.N. at Good Shepherd working as director of nursing and then as vice-president and director of the Raker Center.
2021 Recipient: Michelle Stark, RN
Previous Recipients: Shena B. Ramage
Given by Larry and Amy Beans in support of excellence in nursing. Larry is the CEO of Maurer & Scott Sales, Inc. and believes strongly in education, commitment, hard work, and dedication. As a couple, they are pleased to see their endowed scholarship grow annually in size and impact.
2021 Recipient: Ryan Stocum, BSN, RN, MBA
Previous Recipients: Shannon N. Laughlin, Noah Smith, Amy Kolb, Franckline Joseph
Given by the DeLight Breidegam family to honor their wife and mother, Helen S. Breidegam, who spent her career in nursing and has had a long-standing commitment to those who pursue nursing as a career.
2021 Recipient: Melissa Love, RN
Previous Recipients: Daniel Zica, Brianna Trumbauer, Lisa Krajcic, Lori Moyer-Wolfe, Amy Kolb
Given by Dr. Carpenter, former physician on staff in the Raker Center, Assistant Medical Director, and Interim Chief Medical Director. He served Good Shepherd faithfully for 35 years and was beloved by all residents, patients, and staff; he is a past recipient of the Raker Memorial Award. This scholarship will be in honor of his service and his deep respect for the work of Good Shepherd nurses.
2021 Recipient: Dilicia Spencer, LPN
Previous Recipients: Ana M. Garcia, Cathy Barna
Given by Mike Caruso in loving memory of his wife of 33 years, Sandra “Sandye” Caruso. Sandye was trained as a physical therapist at Lehigh Carbon Community College. She battled cancer and both she and Mike learned to greatly appreciate the love and compassion of the nurses who cared for her throughout her long illness.
2021 Recipient: Michelle Stark, RN
Previous Recipients: Shena B. Ramage
Given by Bob and Lucille Clark in memory of their granddaughter, Erin, and in honor of their grandchildren, Meaghan and Brendan. The Clarks are long-time supporters of Good Shepherd and Lucille is a retired nurse. It is given in gratitude for the care their loved ones have received at Good Shepherd. They wish that priority be given to a nurse working in pediatrics.
2021 Recipient: Taylor Kelly, RN, BSN
Previous Recipients: Amy N. Kolb
Given by Dr. Dawn Costello, retired director of nursing, Lehigh Nursing and Rehab, and nurse educator, in support of nursing education and excellence.
2021 Recipient: Rabiha Medjkane, CNA
Previous Recipients: Veronica R. Fehr, Dan Zica, Helen Garcia, Heidi Santiago
Granted by the Delphine Quinn Perpetual Fund of the Community Foundation in support of nursing education at Good Shepherd. Mrs. Quinn graduated from Allentown General Nursing School in the 1940s.
2021 Recipient: Deborah Caffrey, RN
Previous Recipients: Sarah Nesgoda, Kimberley A. Tallada, Lorillie Soleta, Lisa Smith, Lorillie Soleta
Given by Lois Eisenhard, a graduate of Cedar Crest College and social worker for many years serving children, families and seniors, most recently at Luther Crest. Her father, Dr. H. Edwin Eisenhard, was an Allentown family physician and her mother, Mrs. Arline Eisenhard, was his office assistant.
2021 Recipient: Rebecca Carter, RN
Previous Recipients: Cornela S. Salvador, Brittany Roberts
Given by the Richard Fleming family in honor of their wife and mother, Roberta “Peggy” Fleming, who with her husband, Dick, was committed to the support of nursing education.
2021 Recipients: Lisa Heiser, RN
Previous Recipients: Rebecca Carter, Robin Silliman, Shena Ramage, Carol Domzalski, Kim Boehm
Established in 2021 to further the continuing education of Good Shepherd’s therapists.
2021 Recipients: Mary Jane Frick, OTR/L, ATP, CDP
Established for education or professional development to a Good Shepherd nurse or nursing assistant.
2021 Recipient: Madison Horan, CNA
Established for education or professional development to a Good Shepherd therapist or therapy assistant.
2021 Recipients: Denise Roncolato, COTA/L and Katelyn Moyer, PT, DPT
Established by Sylvia S. Hudders in memory of John Raker Hudders, the sole grandson on Reverend John H. Raker and D. Estella Raker. This scholarship is intended to support continuing education of Good Shepherd staff working on the Brain Injury Unit.
2021 Recipient: Lindsey Fisher, PT
Given by the Kroboth family in loving memory of their wife and mother, Rose Marie Kroboth, R.N., and in support of excellence in neuro-rehabilitation nursing. Rose Marie was a graduate of the Allentown Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing in 1949.
2021 Recipient: Lydia Mejia, CNA
Previous Recipients: Carol Domzalski, Conni Salvador, Ashley Corby, Kim Boehm
Given by Warren and Lydia who were both patients at Good Shepherd and want to express their appreciation for the good care they received by the staff. Warren and Lydia are Mennonite farmers from Souderton who celebrated 65 years of marriage in 2017 and raised a family of 5 children, numerous grand and currently 38 great-grandchildren.
2021 Recipient: Taylor Kelly, RN, BSN
Previous Recipients: Jessica L. Curry
Given through Viola’s bequest. Viola was a life-long supporter of Good Shepherd, starting when she was a member of Luther League in a Lutheran Church in New Jersey. She believes in contributing to continue the excellence of care at Good Shepherd.
2021 Recipient: Neliza Lao, BSN, RN, CWOCN, CSWD-C
Previous Recipients: Dilicia Spencer
Given by Mike Caruso in loving memory of Angela Pessina, oldest daughter of his friends, Michael and Michele Pessina, in support of nursing and education. Angela was born April 21, 1983 in Allentown, PA, and passed away October 28, 2012, at twenty-nine years of age as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident. She was a Spanish teacher at Pen Argyl High School and a young philanthropist, supporting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
2021 Recipient: Taylor Kelly, RN, BSN
Previous Recipients: April J. Oddis, Helen Garcia, Brianna Trumbauer, Veronica Fehr
Given by Jill and Al Douglass in memory of Jill’s grandmother, Mama Raker and Jill’s mother, Roberta Raker Hudders, who were dedicated to Good Shepherd, nursing, and education. Mama Raker, along with her husband, the Rev. John Raker, were the founders of Good Shepherd in 1908 and Mama is said to have “run the nursing home like a mother hen.”
2021 Recipient: Kessie Young, CNA
Previous Recipients: Nathavasky Mulatre, Ashley Corby, Shena Ramage, Carol Domzalski
Given by Dr. Ruth Rusling, Ph.D., in support of nursing education and in memory of her husband, William Rusling. Both he and Ruth were patients at Good Shepherd and had the benefit of the excellent care by our nurses during their stay. They are strong believers in the pursuit of higher educational opportunities for all.
2021 Recipient: Judy A. Eisenhauer, BSN, MSN, DNP
Previous Recipient: Judy A. Eisenhauer, Natalie Crespo, Jessica Curry
2021 Recipient: Catherine Misczak, MS, OTR/L, CSRS
Established by Lee C. Wei this scholarship is intended for use to benefit staff working with patients receiving neurological rehabilitation.
2021 Recipient: Judith Christman, PTA, CKTP and Katie Milks
Sponsored by the Good Shepherd Women’s Giving Circle, a group of philanthropically-minded women who pool their resources to support the programs of Good Shepherd and “do together what they could not do alone.”
2021 Recipient: Jolene Klotz, BSN, MSN
Previous Recipients: Kathleen A. Barna, Marelise Grobler, Jennifer Ko, Jennifer Ko, Donna Miller, Tamatha Urffer
For more information, please contact Kimberly Stolarik at [email protected] or 610-776-8343.