2016 Scholarship Recipients

Healthcare Scholarship Program

Each year, we offer scholarships to students currently enrolled in a health care field. These merit-based scholarships are funded by generous community donors, including St. Joseph's Nurses Society, seeking to encourage, inspire, and support these outstanding students. Since 2005, St. Joseph's has awarded over $397,000 in scholarships to 337 deserving students. 

Contact us to learn about how you can support the caregivers of tomorrow.

Nursing Scholarships:

Dr. Anitra Williams HOPE Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Pursuing RN certification

  • Demonstrate financial need, academic promise, and a deep commitment to serving their communities through healthcare.

Details:

The HOPE Program (Helping Our People Elevate) was co-founded by Dr. Anitra Williams in 2019 as a reflection of her lifelong commitment to empowering individuals in her community and helping them realize their dreams of becoming registered nurses. With her 26 years of service at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Dr. Williams was a driving force in supporting local healthcare education and workforce development. In 2020, the HOPE Program officially launched in San Joaquin County through HealthForce Partners. Since its inception, the program has played a vital role in removing barriers to education and creating pathways into nursing for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. In recognition of their impact, the program’s creators were honored with a Key to the City in 2024. Building on this legacy, the HOPE Scholarship was established to support students who demonstrate financial need, academic promise, and a deep commitment to serving their communities through healthcare. Dr. Williams envisioned this scholarship as a way to inspire and uplift the next generation of compassionate healthcare professionals, while giving back to the community that shaped her own journey.

 

Barbara Kane Memorial Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Second-year nursing student

  • Enrolled at San Joaquin Delta College

  • Pursuing their RN

Applicants desiring to be a floor or ED nurse are encouraged to apply.

Details:

Barbara Kane began her work at St. Joseph’s Medical Center as a surgical nurse and also served in the nursing float pool and pediatrics, before transitioning to Orthopedics where she spent most of her career until 1995. The Barbara Kane Memorial Scholarship was founded by Donna Kane (daughter) as a way to have her mother’s legacy live on. This scholarship aims to support local nurses in their second year at San Joaquin Delta College’s nursing program.

 

Eliza Tanner Memorial Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Nurses pursuing advanced degrees

  • HOPE students or San Joaquin Delta College (preferred)

Details:

Eliza Tanner, RN spent over 40 years in healthcare and served as a registered nurse for over 32 years. She was passionate about helping others, and instilled this value in her children at an early age. Continued by her daughter, Anitra Williams, DNP, CCRN, PHN, HACP Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive in memory of her mother, will support aspiring nurses in our community.

 

Gusman-Langston Family Nursing Scholarship

Requirements:

  • St. Joseph's Medical Center employee
  • Pursuing initial or advanced nursing
  • GPA 3.0 or above

Details:

Dedicated to parents, who as farm laborers, prioritized education particularly in nursing.

 

Loraine Margie Gamboni Memorial Scholarship: a Legacy of Caring

Requirements: 

  • Nursing student  (no GPA, degree pursuit, or year of study requirements) 

Latino applicants who demonstrate financial need are encouraged to apply

Details:

The name Gamboni resonates deeply within the halls of St. Joseph's Medical Center, a testament to a family's unwavering dedication to healing and service. For 32 years, Rae Gamboni graced St. Joseph's as a nurse, an instructor and Chief Nursing Officer, shaping countless careers and elevating the standard of patient care. This scholarship, generously funded by the Wiley family, stands as a poignant tribute to Rae's extraordinary commitment to nursing, and a loving memorial to her mother, Lorraine Margie Gamboni.

Lorraine, a woman of boundless spirit and a heart overflowing with generosity, was a pillar of her community. Known for her tireless volunteerism, her passionate support of local arts, and her unwavering dedication to charitable causes, Lorraine touched countless lives. Her home was a haven of warmth and laughter, especially during the holidays, where her legendary homemade cookies were a symbol of her love and hospitality. A loyal friend and devoted mother, Lorraine instilled in her children, Rae and Jeff, the values of compassion, service, and unwavering dedication.

In honor of Lorraine's spirit and Rae's profound impact on the nursing profession, the Lorraine Margie Gamboni Memorial Scholarship has been established. This scholarship is a testament to the enduring legacy of a remarkable woman and a family's commitment to nurturing the next generation of compassionate caregivers. We encourage all who share Lorraine's spirit of service and Rae's dedication to nursing to apply.

 

 

 

Mended Hearts Big Valley Chapter 40 Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Nursing student

  • Demonstrate community-oriented mindset in application 

Applicants desiring to work in cardiac care are encouraged to apply

Led by volunteers, Mended Hearts mission is dedicated to “Inspiring hope and improving the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support”. Mended Hearts is the largest peer-to-peer heart patient support network in the world. Scholarship provided to promote nursing education, particularly for those with an interest in cardiac care.  

 

Rae Gamboni Charos Nursing Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Currently employed as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Medical Center

  • Pursuing advanced degrees

  • One entry level (not an ADN – i.e. master’s or 2nd degree)

  • One advanced degree

  • Proven academic success and dedication to the profession

Details:

This scholarship was established in honor of Rae Chaos, DNP, RN. After serving St. Joseph’s Medical Center for 32 years, Rae Charos retired at the end of January 2022. Rae’s journey with St. Joseph’s began in 1990 as an instructor in the hospital’s education department. Eleven years later, she stepped into the role of Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, carrying the passion for education and pursuing advanced degrees with her. Rae is the longest serving Chief Nursing Officer at Dignity Health to date.

 

Richards-Collier Family Nursing Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Second-year or higher nursing student

  • Facing financial obstacles

Applicants interested in community health, echoing Wilma’s commitment to education and empowerment preferred.

Details:

Wilma June Richards was raised on a farm in rural Michigan, the eldest daughter of ten children. Her educational journey began in a humble one-room schoolhouse she attended with her siblings.  Once she finished elementary school, she began secondary school in town by catching a ride on the milk truck.  In ninth grade, she eventually left the farm and relocated to Monroe, exchanging child care and housekeeping for room and board so that she could be closer to school. Recognizing education as her ticket to a life beyond the farm, Wilma excelled academically, graduating as high school valedictorian and pursuing a math major at the University of Michigan. While at University of Michigan, she was a member of the inaugural class of the university's registered nursing program.  Wilma was a nurse for over 39 years, eventually assuming the role of nursing director at a local hospital. Throughout her career, she emphasized the empowerment and independence that education, particularly for women, brings.
 
Her daughter, Pat Collier, followed suit, entering the nursing profession immediately after college. With Wilma's inspiration, Pat furthered her education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master's in Health Services Administration. Together, Wilma and Pat contributed 84 years to the nursing profession.

 

St. Joseph’s Nurses Society Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Recipient(s) must be an active nurse (RN) employee of St. Joseph’s

    • OR enrolled in St. Joseph’s HOPE Incumbent Worker Program

    • OR in St. Joseph’s student nurse extern program.

  • Resident of San Joaquin County

  • GPA of 3.0 or higher

Details:

Established in 2017, St. Joseph’s Nurses Society was created to support and promote fellowship and continued education for past, current, and future nurses. St. Joseph’s Nurses Society support helps ease financial barriers for continuing education so that nurses may focus on exploring their aspirations, fulfilling their greatest potential, and transforming the future of health care. The Society also supports service and outreach projects to impact the greater Stockton community. To learn more about the society and/or to become a member please visit their website. 

 

 

General Healthcare Scholarships:

Quitasol-Sison Memorial Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Pursuing healthcare career, nursing and non-nursing

Applicants seeking advanced nursing degrees are encouraged to apply.

Details:

The Quitasol and Sison family’s held a deep commitment to education, as demonstrated through their own pursuit of advanced degrees and their work promoting health care pathways community-wide. Michael Quitasol, a career nurse, was recognized as a pioneer in establishing a Medical Careers Academy at Stagg High School. During his 33 years at St. Joseph’s, Michael served as a mentor for nurses and clinicians. At the time of her passing, Fernisa Sison, who had been a nurse practitioner at St. Joseph’s for many years, was nearing the completion of her Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree. Michael’s daughter Evanmichel was a beloved ICU nurse at St. Joseph’s, who often acted as preceptor for nurses who desired to work in a critical care setting. She was pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing. Evan’s two sisters, Nicole, an avid environmentalist, and Angela, a middle school teacher, were also lost in the tragic dive boat fire in the Channel Islands. Surviving family members include Fern’s son and daughter, Dominic Selga, an RN in our Outpatient Surgery unit, Nisa Shinagawa, former St. Joseph’s maternal child nurse, and Christina Quitasol, daughter of Michael, who also worked as a critical care nurse in our facility.

Sister Gabriel Scholarship

Requirements:

  • Seeking advancement in a non-nursing healthcare career. 

Details:

Loretta C. Lally entered the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael in 1943 at which point she took the name Sister Gabriel. Her first “role” at St. Joseph’s included responsibility for patient accounting, purchasing, payroll and human resources. In 1952 Sister Gabriel was named Administrator (President) of St. Joseph’s–a title she would hold for 38 years. Sister Gabriel retired in 1990 and returned eventually to San Rafael. She died at Our Lady of Lourdes Convent in February of 1999. This scholarship pays tribute to her dedication to St. Joseph’s and the community at large. “Now it is our turn to pay tribute to you, your faith in us, your loyalty to St. Joseph’s and your devotion to excellence by our assurances that you and your work here will not be forgotten.” - 1990 Medical Staff upon her retirement.

"Welcome Home!" Scholarship

Requirements:

  • This scholarship is open to all (no GPA, degree pursuit, or year of study requirements) 
  • No need to be a veteran or active service duty to apply

Details:

This veteran-sponsored scholarship is a celebration of those who served our country, as well as those who continue to serve in transition to civilian life. This scholarship honors an aspiring recipient, who is pursuing a degree in nursing that parallels their commitment, dedication, and service to the community and our nation to keep us safe.