Virgil and Marie Strahm Scholarship in Nursing

Virgil and Marie were raised near Berne, Indiana. For a couple years after graduation from high school, Marie was employed as a seamstress in a clothing factory and Virgil assisted with the operation of a dairy farm.

Virgil and Marie were married in June 1954. At the time Virgil was doing his 1-W service at the state hospital located in Westville, Indiana. While there, Virgil and Marie decided that Virgil would pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. In the summer of 1955 they moved to Goshen to pursue that goal at Goshen College. In May of 1959, Virgil became the first male graduate of the Goshen College School of Nursing. He went on to work for nearly thirty years as a full time Registered Nurse at Elkhart General Hospital with an additional eight part-time years, also at Elkhart General Hospital. While Virgil and Marie have provided well for their family, they desire to also assist others who as faithful Christians pursue an education in nursing in order to serve others who need love and care.