Drs. Pradeep and Manjula Mehta of Springfield recently made a $250,000 gift commitment to the LLCC Foundation to provide scholarships to LLCC nursing students.

The gift will fund scholarships over the next 10 years for students in LLCC’s associate degree nursing, licensed practical nurse and basic nurse assistant programs. The amount of each scholarship award will vary based on student needs.

“This very generous gift will continue the Mehtas’ impact on local health care and provide much needed assistance to students as they pursue a career in the nursing field,” said Karen Sanders, vice president of advancement and executive director of the LLCC Foundation. “We are grateful for the Mehtas’ foresight and dedication to our community by investing in the next generation of health care workers.”

Dr. Pradeep Mehta served the local community as a nephrologist for 35 years. Dr. Manjula Mehta taught psychology for 18 years at LLCC and was the recipient of a Distinguished Service Award for adjunct faculty.

Recently, 19 LLCC nursing students were named as the first recipients of Mehta scholarships, including associate degree nursing students Brayden Robson, Stephanie Stefancic and Tyler Dickson of Springfield; Isaac Blackford of Chatham; Dinnie “Dee” Patterson of Jacksonville and Catricia Kelley of Arenzville; LPN to ADN bridge program student Nathan Ihlenfeldt of Springfield; licensed practical nurse students Jer’dajah McKinnie of Springfield; Kelley Byrom and Alexus Holland of Jacksonville; Rachael Balder of New Berlin; Alexis Gutierrez of Greenview and Danielle Sherren of Oakford; and basic nurse assistant students Twanreona McGowan of Jacksonville; Allison Cambron and Tracy Daugherty of Tovey; Mariah Lawyer of Taylorville; Morgan Miller of Mt. Auburn and Emma Hughes-Prehn of Morrisonville.