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Community Howard celebrates Nursing Academy signing day

For release on July 27, 2023

Community Howard Regional Health held a signing day to celebrate the first two Indiana University Kokomo nursing students accepted into a new Nursing Academy created in partnership with the hospital, university and Community Howard Regional Health Foundation.

Students Shelby Walker and Roxandra Buckmaster, who will graduate from IU Kokomo’s School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions (SNAHP) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in December 2023, were the first accepted into the Nursing Academy.

The Nursing Academy offers nursing students in their senior year expanded patient care experience through a paid intern role at Community Howard, as well regular mentoring and coaching from Nursing Academy leaders. Nursing Academy students also receive a $10,000 scholarship provided by the Community Howard Regional Health Foundation during their final semester of school, in return for a two-year commitment to work for the hospital as a registered nurse upon graduation.

Kokomo Nursing Academy cohort 2023

“We are thrilled to welcome Roxandra and Shelby into the Community Howard family,” said Jamie Phillippe, Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive for Community Howard. “These two students are a testament to the quality of the education and training provided at IU Kokomo and we are excited to know they are committing to beginning their nursing careers here at Community Howard. We look forward to helping them continue to grow and succeed well into the future.”

Dean Susan Hendricks congratulated the students.

“We are delighted to have two of our nursing students honored with this exceptional opportunity,” she said. “In these challenging times for healthcare, innovative partnerships such as this can make a real difference in the lives of our students, and the organizations and people our graduates will serve.”

The Community Howard Regional Health Foundation has committed to funding the Nursing Academy scholarships for additional students through at least 2025.

“Retaining nursing students to work in this community is a win for everyone and we look forward to investing in additional students in the coming years,” said Rhonda Eastman, Director of the Community Howard Regional Health Foundation. “Thanks to the support of the Foundation board and our donors we are helping to bring the next generation of nurses to Community Howard.”

About Community Howard Regional Health
Community Howard Regional Health, part of Community Health Network, offers high-quality, patient-centered services close to home. The hospital campus offers primary and specialty inpatient and outpatient services, which include a heart program, behavioral health, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics, emergency, sleep disorders, surgery, wound care, obstetrics and gynecology. To learn more about Community Howard Regional Health, visit eCommunity.com/howard.

George Mast, Director of Business Development , Community Howard
George Mast
Director of Business Development , Community Howard Regional Health