The Ripley County Community Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Riley Duerstock Nursing Scholarship which is available to students in 2024. Deron and Jill Duerstock established this scholarship in memory of their daughter, Riley, in the hopes of bringing joy and hope out of tragedy.

Riley passed away in a car accident on Sept. 11, 2023 at the age of 21. Riley was a nurturer by nature who was drawn to the medical field from an early age. In her short life, she touched the lives of many with her selfless ways. At the age of 16, Riley was a medical intern in Ghana, Africa, during which she cared for people suffering from leprosy and poor mothers and their ill children.

Later, she donated her eggs to women unable to conceive and, at the time of her death, was in her 3rd year of nursing school at the University of Indianapolis with hopes of becoming a flight nurse.

In her final hours, she gave the ultimate gift of life to the three recipients of her organs. She is remembered as an adventurous, loyal, ambitious, kindhearted, humble, strong, and fun young woman. She loved her family, her dogs, her array of plants, crocheting, painting, and quiet nights at home with her boyfriend, Jarrod. She was a beautiful, bright light and will be dearly missed.

The Riley Duerstock Nursing Scholarship is a $1,000 award which will support a current nursing student who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree as an RN, is a resident of Ripley or Franklin County and is a graduate of Batesville High School. The application due date is June 1, 2024 and can be accessed through the Ripley County Community Foundation’s website at https://rccfonline.org/scholarships/.