Virginia Jamison Fenske Memorial Nursing Scholarship

Virginia Jamison Fenske was born on May 8, 1916 on the Truxton Indian Reservation in Valentine, Arizona. Both her parents worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Indian reservation. The family arrived in Riverside, California a few years later where they settled in Arlington, where her parents worked at the Sherman Institute Indian School. Her father was the boy’s counselor and sports coach, her mother was a nurse at the school hospital. Virginia attended elementary thru high school in Riverside, and graduated from Poly High class of 1934. Virginia attended Riverside City College for 2 years, graduated and certified in Cosmetology and went to work in Riverside in 1937. She met her husband, Michael Fenske, at a dance at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium in 1941. He was in the Army Air Force based out at March Air Force Base, Riverside. During World War II, the newlywed couple were living on March Air Force Base where they welcomed two children into their family, daughter Donna and son Michael Paul. When her husband and the family were transferred to serve in Madrid, Spain in 1958-1960, Virginia took the opportunity to work as a Red Cross Volunteer at the Air Force Base hospital. She received honors for the many hours working at the hospital. After returning from Spain, Michael retired from the Air Force and Virginia went back to work at the Mission Inn Beauty Salon in Riverside. She continued to work through the 1960’s and
finally she retired in the 1970’s. Virginia lived a long and adventurous life, and celebrated her 101st birthday on May 8, 2017 surrounded by friends and family. She passed away on June 4, 2017. Virginia’s daughter, Donna Fenske, has chosen to honor her mother’s memory by establishing a scholarship for Riverside City College nursing students in her name. – Continuing RCC Student

Basic requirements and reviewer notes:
Major: Nursing
Cumulative GPA required: 2.0
Financial need required: No
Student activities, volunteer work required: None required
Other special requirements: None