Margaret Bennet Receives 2011 Eileen Austin Neal Scholarship 

Posted on 7/6/2011

Roger Neal, husband of the late Eileen Austin Neal, RN, presents scholarship award to Margaret Bennett in front of the display honoring his wife in Springfield Hospital.

SPRINGFIELD - The 6th annual Eileen Austin Neal, RN, nursing scholarship of $1,000 was awarded to Margaret Bennett, from Bellows Falls Union High School, to attend Simmons College.  “My dream is to become a nurse,” Bennett wrote in her application, “they are the first line in the healing process.”  The award was decided by nurse managers at the Springfield Hospital. 

Eileen Austin Neal was a registered nurse at Springfield Hospital for 64 years, retiring in 2005.  She was the first recipient of the hospital’s George F. Leland Community Health Award in 2003. In 2004, the hospital established the Eileen Austin Neal Spirit of Nursing Award, given to a staff nurse, in recognition of her many years of dedicated service.

Upon her death in February of 2006, at the request of Eileen’s family, Springfield Hospital Foundation also established a nursing scholarship fund in her name with the gifts received in her memory.

“Springfield Hospital is a better place for Eileen having worked here,” says Larry Kraft, Foundation Director. “This scholarship continues her positive influence on both nursing and the community.”   ###