Laredo College scholarship for nursing benefits Cotulla ISD graduates

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Laredo College has established the Geraldine Smith-Haley and Elinor K. Smith Endowment with a $100,000 fund in a tribute to two generations of nurses who made a lasting impact on South Texas communities,
The endowment will support the newly created Geraldine Smith-Haley and Elinor K. Smith Nursing Scholarship, which will provide financial assistance to students pursuing nursing careers.
The scholarship will primarily benefit Cotulla High School graduates who are enrolled in or accepted into the Laredo College Nursing Program. Funds will be distributed based on the interest accrued from the endowment, offering support to students in need and “recognizing the legacy of two women who made significant contributions to the nursing profession,” according to Laredo College in a prepared statement last week.
To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must be graduates of Cotulla High School; be enrolled in or accepted into the Laredo College Nursing Program at the time of application; be in good academic standing at the time of application; demonstrate verified financial need and be of good moral character and show a commitment to serving others as a nurse.
The late Elinor K. Smith was a registered nurse in Herkimer, New York. She graduated from Crouse-Irving Hospital School of Nursing in 1930 and spent her entire career in nursing in upstate New York, retiring in the early 1970s.
“Smith visited Cotulla and Laredo during her lifetime and saw firsthand the critical need for trained nursing professionals in the area,” the college reported. “Her example inspired her daughter and granddaughter to pursue nursing careers.”
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Geraldine Elinor Smith-Haley earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1959. After moving to Cotulla in 1961 with her husband, she worked as a nurse in Dilley, Pearsall and Cotulla.
From 1979 to 1996, Smith-Haley served as both the school nurse and a government teacher at Cotulla High School. After relocating to San Antonio, she continued her nursing career with the San Antonio School District. Her lifelong dedication to nursing and education inspired her daughter, Kathleen Pena-Witten, and granddaughter, Karina Medina, to become nurses.
“The establishment of the Geraldine Smith-Haley and Elinor K. Smith Nursing Scholarship ensures that the legacies of these two women will continue to inspire future generations of nurses,” the college reported. “Their dedication to healthcare and education has made a lasting impact on the Cotulla community, and this scholarship is designed to carry their work forward.”
Additional information on the endowment is available by contacting the Laredo College Development Office at [email protected] or by calling (956) 721-5812.