KENDALLVILLE, IND. – July 2, 2025 – Prairie Heights High School senior Alexyss Keener will head to nursing school this fall with help from Parkview Noble Hospital’s Karen Denney Nursing Scholarship.
Keener was selected as the recipient of this year’s $2,000 scholarship, which is made possible by donations to the Parkview Health Foundation from Karen Denney’s family and friends, Parkview co-workers and other individuals wishing to support healthcare education and advance compassionate nursing practice.
“It’s a pleasure to announce that Alexyss Keener is the recipient of the annual Karen Denney Scholarship,” said Kelsey Snyder, development coordinator, Parkview Health Foundation. “A dedicated nurse who inspired colleagues at Parkview Noble Hospital throughout her three-decade career, Karen Denney established this scholarship to empower the next generation of caregivers. Alexyss’ dedication to her patients, commitment to achieving her goals regardless of obstacles, and outstanding academic performance echo Karen's own unwavering commitment. She is a deserving recipient of this scholarship.”
“Providing training experiences and scholarships to enable aspiring nurses to pursue their education is a wonderful way for us to help bright young people while building the pipeline of future healthcare professionals,” said Jordi Disler, market president, Parkview Health North. “Hard-working students like Alexyss are likely to continue their commitment to excellence as they enter their chosen field, and we want to encourage them. Alexyss will be an asset to the nursing community wherever she chooses to practice. I hope that will be Parkview!”
Keener will study nursing this fall at Huntington University in Huntington, Indiana.
She was a student in the Impact Institute’s Health Occupations Education Program, which prepares students for future careers in healthcare and gives them hands-on experiences in a variety of settings while still in high school. Through this experience, she did rotations in a clinic setting as well as in the Emergency Department at Parkview LaGrange Hospital.
Keener aspires to become a flight nurse: “Being able to engage in conversations with the nurses and paramedics really motivated me to pursue this type of occupation. I have never been the type to want a day-to-day routine. In fact, that is what I enjoyed most about being able to follow and learn from the ER nurses and EMTs – they were constantly moving and always had a story to tell about being in the field.”
“Challenge is something that I enjoy,” she continued. “I work a full-time job as a CNA [certified nursing assistant] in a nursing home to be able to pay the bills that I am responsible for, while also taking dual-credit college classes and maintaining straight ‘A’s in my studies."
Mike Schmidt, dual-credit English teacher at Prairie Heights High School, praised Alexyss in his letter of recommendation: “She is a self-disciplined student who strives for understanding and achievement. She balances the rigor of academics, the demands of working a job, and responsibilities at home. Alexyss has excelled in the classroom, as well as in leadership positions both within and outside of the school.”
Asked about her hopes for her college education, Keener replied, “I hope to gain a better understanding of the world around me, as well as myself. I know what I am striving to achieve in my lifetime. With this education, I can prove to myself that even though it once was just a dream, it can become reality and all the hard work through my high school and college career will be worth it.”
Karen Denney, for whom the scholarship is named, was a caring nurse who dedicated her 35-year career to patients at McCray Memorial Hospital and Parkview Noble Hospital. During her career, she was the manager of the OB department – now the Family Birthing Center – for more than 25 years. Her last wish in the hospital was to have a scholarship that would help high school students pursue a nursing degree.
The scholarship program is administered by Parkview Health Foundation. Scholarship winners are selected annually by a review committee comprising Karen Denney’s family and colleagues, Parkview leaders and foundation representatives.
To learn more about supporting the Parkview Health Foundation’s Karen Denney Nursing Scholarship Fund, email scholarships@parkview.com or call 260-266-7800.