Nursing Scholarships Presented

Emily Trione joins Marie Foley Danecker, chief nursing officer of Hackensack Meridian Ocean Medical Center during a recent presentation of a nursing scholarship from the Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund to Trione. (Photo courtesy Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund Committee)

  BRICK – The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund Committee recently presented its 2020 scholarships at Hackensack Meridian’s Ocean Medical Center to deserving area recipients.

  Jackson resident Shoshana Diamond and Emily Trione of Brick Township received a $500 scholarship to further their nursing education.

  Diamond has been employed with Ocean Medical Center since 2013 and is currently a member of the surgical team. During the past seven years, she has become well versed in several sub-specialties including general, orthopedic, vascular and thoracic surgery.

  According to many of her colleagues, Diamond works tirelessly every day to ensure that her patients receive the highest quality of care. She is a Registered Nurse and member of the Ocean Medical Center’s Shared Grievance and Surgical Site Infection Committees.

  Diamond is pursuing her MSN degree at Chamberlain University School of Nursing with an expected completion date of June 2022.

Shoshanna Diamond (Photo courtesy Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund Committee)

  Emily Trione is pursuing her BSN at William Patterson University with an anticipated completion date of December 2022. She is the daughter of Nancy Trione, a long-time career nurse at Ocean Medical Center who was one of three individuals who received the inaugural Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship in 2011.

  Emily is currently a Patient Care Technician and part of the 4 North nursing unit at the medical center. She has been touted by her superiors as a hard-working individual with a very strong character who is always looking to improve.

  Her ultimate goal is to become a part of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as she advances her nursing career.

  Walt Konopka, chairperson of the Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund said, “on behalf of the entire scholarship committee, I want to congratulate Shoshana and Emily. They are exceptional Ocean Medical Center team members who truly have a sincere desire and compassion for the nursing profession and nursing education just like Barbara did.”

  “Both of them have an exceptional drive to gain as much knowledge as they can to help their fellow team members and patients and have placed a priority on their own personal nursing education to help serve all of us better,” Konopka said.

  Now in its tenth year, The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund has awarded $20,000 to 35 nurses and nursing students of Ocean Medical Center.

  The scholarship fund provides monetary assistance to qualified nurses and nursing students of Ocean Medical Center who desire to continue their formal education in the nursing profession.

  It was created to honor the memory of long-time Point Pleasant resident Barbara Forfar, or “Foof,” as she was called by her fellow nurses and colleagues, and her 44 years of dedication to the nursing profession – with all but three years of her service associated with Ocean Medical Center.

  “We are grateful for the incredible support of our team members throughout the years,” says Marie Foley-Danecker, chief nursing officer of Ocean Medical Center. “It’s also such a beautiful tribute to Foof – whom we still remember fondly.”

  She added, “these scholarships help to make our entire team better and we are appreciative of everything the committee does for our team members, including the Rock for the Nurses fundraiser.”

  This year’s Rock for the Nurses Fundraiser was canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been rescheduled for May 2, 2021.

  For more information about The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund, including how to make a donation, please visit forfarscholarship.org or connect with The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund on Facebook or Twitter.