Scholarships
Therese Foley Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Theresa (Therese) Foley, RN
A passionate belief in the dignity of every individual defined Therese Foley’s life. It was a life marked by the devotion of her time and effort on behalf of others.
She lived her beliefs through her professionalism as a Registered Nurse and Clinical Nursing Instructor, her commitment as a mother, and her advocacy for public health through environmental protection. In each role she was completely committed to advancing the well-being of others.
Therese’s nursing career began in 1947 with her graduation from Detroit’s St Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing. Like most young nursing students of that era, she registered for the United States Cadet Nurse Corps in 1944 in anticipation of future service. Fortunately, the end of World War 2 occurred prior to her graduation. Therese began her hospital nursing duties upon graduation and registration as a nurse.
Therese married and over the next several decades became the mother of six children while working as a Registered Nurse in hospitals in Fenton, Detroit, Port Huron, and St. Clair. During the 1970s and 1980s, Therese began teaching in addition to working in a hospital. Initially she taught Lamaze childbirth preparation classes, and later instructed nursing refresher courses for RNs reentering practice after time away. This eventually led to a teaching position in the AD Nursing program at St Clair County Community College (SC4) where she taught for 16 years. While at SC4 Therese Foley also served for several years as Union President.
In the 1970s and 1980s Therese also became an environmental activist. Although she was not a person to seek public recognition, she spoke out forcefully and consistently regarding local activities which led to watercourse contamination. Protection of public health was the driving force that animated Therese’s relentless resistance.
Therese Foley focused on the individual. As a nursing instructor she often worked with students beyond the classroom and clinical experience. She would tutor her students individually, on her own time, and coach them in preparation for the testing involved in their studies and professional registration. When asked, she took personal interest in the lives of her students and assisted them in meeting the life challenges they faced. Her students’ success was her greatest reward.
A scholarship in honor of Therese Foley was established at SC4 to continue her legacy of helping others become successful. She cherished her career in nursing and the opportunities it afforded her. Therese would not have used the phrase “pay it forward” but her life was a remarkable example of that way of life.
