May 13, 2025, Press release from Mercy Health - St. Rita's:
LIMA, Ohio – St. Rita’s Medical Center is pleased to announce the winners of our 2025 Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Scholarships! The program allocates 10 one-time $1,500 scholarships to high achieving graduating high school seniors who plan to major in a medical-related field of study. In addition to being awarded financial support, the St. Rita’s team also makes great connections with students and their families so that we can be a resource throughout the students’ college career.
New this year was the addition of four $2,500 Susan Giokaris Patzakis Nursing Scholarships which were available to graduating seniors from Lima Senior High School who are planning to pursue a degree in nursing. This generous scholarship established by her husband, Dr. Patzakis, honors the life and legacy Susan, a Lima native who graduated from Lima Senior High School before working as a nurse out of state.
- Laney Hedrick of Ottawa-Glandorf High School, attending Rhodes State College in Nursing
- Melana Badea of Lima Central Catholic attending The University of Chicago in Psychology Pre-Med
- Catalina Jimenez of McComb High School attending Indiana Wesleyan University in Social Work
- Marie Ballas of Fort Loramie attending The Ohio State University in Biochemistry
- Cameron Ridenour of Shawnee High School attending The Ohio State University in Radiation Therapy
- Meredith Bockrath of Kalida High School attending The Ohio State University in Nursing
- Emily Lee of Bath High School attending Ohio Northern University in Nursing
- Abby Giesige of Ottawa-Glandorf High School attending Bowling Green State University in Nursing
- Amber Michel of Columbus Grove High School attending The Ohio State University in Radiological Sciences
- Hayden Gillig of Liberty – Benton attending Miami University in Medical Laboratory Sciences / Pre-Med
- Ayriana Shine of Lima Senior High School attending Rhodes State College in Nursing
- Terrionna Bagley of Lima Senior High School attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Nursing
- Ke'Asia Jones of Lima Senior High School attending University of Cincinnati in Nursing
- Natalie Quintero of Lima Senior High School attending The Ohio State University in Radiation Therapy
