Fund Purpose Provides support for educational scholarships for graduating seniors of Corydon Central High School who are pursuing a certificate or degree in a nursing program.
Fund Story The Susan Evans Austin Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund was established at the Harrison County Community Foundation to provide scholarship support to graduating seniors of Corydon Central High School who are pursuing a certificate or degree in a nursing program.
Susan Evans Austin was a sixth generation Harrison Countian, born in 1936 to William F. and Laura Decker Buchanan. She graduated from Corydon Central High School in 1954, then went to General Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky and earned her RN degree. "If ever a person loved their profession, it was Susan Buchanan Evans Austin," said Susan's sister, Betty Magner.
Susan married Dennis G. Evans in 1956 and they had two children, Michael G. of Orlando, Florida and Barbara Ann Stewart of Corydon. Both of Susan's children are graduates of Corydon Central High School. Barbara's daughter Hailee Stewart was a 2008 graduate and Hailee's brother, Tim King, attended CCHS and is now in the US Army.
Susan was very active in Tri Kappa, Tri Kappa Associates and in Old Capitol United Methodist Church in Corydon. She served 17 years as the 1st school nurse for the South Harrison Community School Corporation and was known by all the School District as "Nurse Evans" or "Nurse Susie." After her husband's death in 1992, Susie worked as a school nurse in the North Harrison School District.
In October 1994, Susie married Donald Austin and retired from her beloved profession. In early 1996, she was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer and died in February 1997.
"There were hundreds and perhaps thousands of students and parents that were helped by her caring attitude and her nursing knowledge," said her sister. In January 1997 she was told this nursing scholarship was being established in her name to help young people to pursue the profession of nursing. "The glow on her face and her excitement that she would be helping students forever was so wonderful to be a part of," said Betty.
Scholarship Recipients: 2008: Bridgett Decker 2009: Morgan Wagner Vannis 2010: Megan Cesar-Shehorn 2011: Sarah Jensen 2012: Melinda Edwards 2013: Andrea Edwards 2014: Jenny Pitts 2015: Joshua Peterson 2016: Justin Satori 2017: Morgan Nalley 2018: Blake Wiseman 2019: Nathan Harvey 2021: Ethan Lisher 2022: Ella Bennett