Winona Health Foundation awards Phyllis A. McClenathan Nursing Scholarship to two local caregivers
May 26, 2026
Coral Bausman and Jannessa Niemeyer were awarded the 2026 Phyllis A. McClenathan Nursing Scholarship through the Winona Health Foundation, helping them take the next step in their nursing journeys.
Coral Bausman started at Winona Health at 14 years old in Food and Nutrition – she has since been a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), a TMA (Trained Medication Aide) and is currently an ER Tech at Winona Health while she finishes her RN degree.
“Caring for people directly and assisting in making their lives better brings me so much purpose in life,” Coral said.
“Coral is meant for healthcare,” said Kelli Thelen, nurse educator at Winona Health. “She consistently provides above and beyond care to her patients and shows them genuine compassion – she treats them like the person they are, rather than a task to be checked off.”
Jannessa Niemeyer is also balancing caregiving and school. She has been a CNA and TMA at Winona Health and will be an intern on the Medical/Surgical/Pediatric floor this summer, where she will gain hands-on experience.
“To me, compassionate, patient-centered care means treating each patient according to their own values,” Jannessa said. “This means respecting patients’ autonomy, culture, values and concerns while listening attentively and advocating for them.”
“Her commitment to doing what is right and asking thoughtful, intuitive questions, even when difficult, reflects the core values of her nursing profession,” said Brit Voshage, associate professor, Department of Nursing at WSU. “She meets challenges with resilience and actively pursues opportunities to expand her competence and ability to provide high quality, safe and effective nursing care.”
The scholarship was established in memory of Phyllis A. McClenathan, a long-time nurse in Winona Health’s Family Birth Center who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Her husband, Dean, and their children created the scholarship in 2006 to honor her legacy and support future nurses like Coral and Jannessa.
Anna Sibenaller, Winona Health Foundation community coordinator, shared how meaningful the scholarship program is—both to the recipients and the family who made it possible.
“We want to express our gratitude to Dean McClenathan and Phyllis’s family for establishing the Phyllis A. McClenathan Nursing Scholarship,” she said. “We are so thrilled that we’re able to help the next generation of caregivers become the very best that they can be.”
The $1,000 scholarship is available to individuals in the final one or two semesters of completing a two- or four-year nursing degree who live within a 60-mile radius of Winona, attend a post-secondary school within the designated area or are current caregivers at Winona Health.
To learn more about the Phyllis A. McClenathan Nursing Scholarship, contact the Winona Health Foundation at 507.494.7384 or visit winonahealth.org/foundation.
Coral Bausman (above) and Jannessa Niemeyer (below) were awarded the 2026 Phillis A. McClenathan Nursing Scholarship.
