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During the 2023-204 academic year, more than $250,000 of the Will County’s Heroes Teaching & Nursing Scholarship helped over 50 ²¨É«µ¥Ë« students prepare for careers in teaching and nursing. Students living in Will County were eligible for up to $5,000 each academic year. 

“Every dollar counts when you're working and attending school while supporting a family,” Jessica Erzinger, ²¨É«µ¥Ë« nursing student and mother of three small children, commented. “This scholarship has allowed me to focus more on my studies and my family without as much financial stress.”  

After finishing her bachelor's degree, Erzinger hopes to be hired in a hospital's labor and delivery unit. The Will County student plans to work for two to three years before pursuing a Doctorate of Nurse Practice in women's health and midwifery. 

The funds for the Will County’s Heroes Teaching & Nursing Scholarship were from the Will County investment of $10 million of the dollars to increase recruitment in the high-demand fields and incentivize future graduates to work in the region. 

It aims to address shortages in the teaching and nursing profession, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible students include those pursuing teacher certification for elementary education, special education, and secondary education, along with students interested in becoming a Registered Nurse, either through a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an Associates Degree in Nursing. 

In conjunction with Ascension St. Joseph, Silver Cross Hospital, the Center for Economic Development, and Workforce Services, the program fosters a pipeline for graduating high school students, adults seeking career transition, and paraprofessionals or healthcare workers seeking advancement.  

Ashlynne Mills, a ²¨É«µ¥Ë« May 2024 graduate in early childhood and special education, was just hired by Herscher School District as a Special Education resource teacher for students in grades pre-k, kindergarten and first grade.   

“The Will County's Heroes Teaching & Nursing Scholarship made a difference in my life by helping me with some financial support to get through my schooling. It also helped me because I knew that it was something that was going to get me one step closer to my career and graduation,” Mills commented.