The Elizabeth Hughes Society recently presented the Women for Women Scholarship to Jocelyn Shaffer. The scholarship committee awarded Shaffer a $1,000 scholarship to continue her Associate of Science in Nursing.

Shaffer grew up in Elizabethtown and still resides there with her two daughters. An employee of Cornwall Manor Health Center in Cornwall, she has worked in the health care field for 12 years, primarily doing activities with residents in nursing homes. She has a passion for helping those who have cognitive and physical disabilities to recreate and live the best lives they can. After she worked through the pandemic, Shaffer's desire to continue her education in health care grew. In 2021, she enrolled part time at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, with the goal of obtaining her Associate of Science in Nursing and registered nurse licensure. She is scheduled to graduate in 2024. After that, she would like to continue working in a nursing home and eventually earn a nursing home administrator license.

The Women for Women Scholarship was established in memory of the late Elizabeth Hughes member Esther Winters. After learning that Winters returned to school as an adult to become a pharmacist, the society established the scholarship to provide assistance or encouragement for eligible women to return to school to earn a degree, obtain or renew a license, or become certified in an occupation. The scholarship was established because society members believe that need often exists in this area but help is often limited.

A committee reviewed the applications, which included letters of recommendation and an essay by the applicant. The committee members - Maria McCall, Patsy Reed, Carol Hunter, Marsha Williams, Elaine Jackson, and scholarship chair Marilyn Muston - selected the recipient.

Information about next year's Women for Women Scholarship will be available in April 2023. The Elizabeth Hughes Society also awards an annual scholarship to a graduating senior at Elizabethtown Area High School.