The family of retired Nurse Practitioner Janet Burger Appier, who passed away on November 18th after several years of medical hardships, has established a scholarship in her honor and memory through the Allegany County Area Foundation (ACAF). This annually-funded award is available to students this year and is a precursor to a formal full endowment that will enable these awards to be available to the Andover and/or other area students every year from now on.
For this first year there will be two separate $1000 awards to support students aspiring to become a nurse, or possibly go into some other medically related position. Priority will be to graduating seniors from Andover Central School. However, if no one happens to be doing that this year from Andover, it will be expanded to be available to students in other local areas so that at least a couple people can benefit immediately from these awards.
These first scholarships will be made this spring for the 2022-2023 academic year. Students can apply through the regular ACAF online application process (accessible through the ACAF website). They also can get additional information from their school guidance counselor.
Note that a similar fund, also offering two $1000 awards, is being established with the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes in Horseheads, NY for students in that area that are going into nursing at Corning Community College, Elmira College, or Arnot Ogden School of Nursing. For more information, go to the Foundation website or contact them at at 607-739-3900 or cmm@communityfund.org
As the application deadlines are approaching for both programs; students are urged to apply ASAP.
As her older sister – Phyllis Burger Wilson — was also a nurse, and probably a pivotal influence on Jan’s decision to become a nurse, it is also definitely in Phyllis’ name and memory as well that this scholarship is being done.
Thus Jan became the second member of her family to go into nursing through St. James School of Nursing in Hornell, NY. That particular model of education with its on-site living and emphasis for major hands on experiences was one of the best curriculums for really exposing and preparing one to become a proficient and caring nurse. Jan always cherished her time at St. James and definitely was saddened when the school ultimately shut down.
For about a year after graduating from Andover and St James, Janet worked in a couple of the local area hospitals and then married James Appier (also an Andover native) in 1967. The couple ultimately moved to the Corning / Elmira area where she worked in various long term positions over the years and ultimately went on to get her Nurse Practitioner’s license. She was licensed as both an RN and ANP in both NY and PA; and even taught Clinical Studies at Elmira College for a couple years. She literally touched hundreds of lives over her life-long career with her dedication and willingness to go above and beyond to help care for and heal her patients.
ACAF currently holds assets of over $13M and manages 70 scholarship and grant funds. For information about contributing to the Janet Appier Memorial Scholarship or establishing a new fund, contact Bruce Campbell at ACAF via director@acafny.org or 585-296-5616.
