February 15, 2006 - The Brian Alexander Scholarship is now available to qualified students thanks to donations from family and friends in memory of Brian Alexander. As a 1993 graduate of Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, Brian Alexander was a critical care nurse in Medical ICU. Well loved throughout the Medical Center, Brian touched many lives before his tragic death at the age of 44. He had previously worked in the Dietary Department, in Admitting and in Bed Control before realizing his dream of graduating from Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing. When asked how he was doing, his inevitable reply would be, “Living the Dream!” This scholarship defines the very essence of Brian Alexander and how he would want to assist another potential Registered Nurse to “Live the Dream.”

• Complete prerequisite courses and be accepted in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or the RN to BSN program at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing.
• Be a current employee of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
• Have a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher
• Enroll in six or more semester hours per semester while receiving this scholarship

Applications can be picked up at the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing Student Finance Center Room 710. For questions please contact Debra Purkel at 309-655-2076 debra.k.purkel@osfhealthcare.org

February 1, 2006 - The Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing Honor Society was chartered as a new chapter of the International Nursing Honor Society Sigma Theta Tau at the biennial convention in November 2005. Sigma Theta Tau International, an honor society that promotes leadership and scholarship in nursing practice, education and research, was chartered in 1922 in Indianapolis and consisted of six members. The Society has now grown to include 431 chapters located in 14 countries.

The chartering ceremony for Tau Omicron will take place March 18 from 2-4 p.m. in the 700 Auditorium at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, when members of the honor society will be inducted into the newly created chapter, Tau Omicron. Karen Grigsby, RN, PhD, director of Sigma Theta Tau International will be the installing officer at the ceremony. Sharon Tear, MS, RNCS, FNP, program coordinator of the Heart of Illinois HIV/AIDS Center at the University of Illinois will be the Keynote speaker. The chapter, Tau Omicron, consists of faculty and students from the College of Nursing and nurses from the communities who have demonstrated excellence in the profession.

For more information about Sigma Theta Tau.