Promise Community Health Center is very honored and excited to announce the Addink Community Service Award Winners. This Addink Community Service Award is presented annually to an individual, team, business, ministry or family, who has made a positive difference in communities through leading, and impacting lives. Three of the nominees this year were nominated by Mr. Gary McEldowney, the Superintendent from Sioux Center Community Schools.
I am nominating the three nurses that serve over 1500 students at Sioux Center Community School. These women were and are the frontline catalysts that have helped our district during the health challenges of COVID. Their compassion, professionalism and grace is modeled each day on multiple occasions. Our school is incredibly blessed by these three amazing nurses.– Mr. Gary McEldowney
The Sioux Center Community Schools nurses who are very deserving of being The Addink Community Service Award Winners are Sarah TeGrotenhuis, Becky Dykshorn and Elizabeth Roskam.
Sarah TeGrotenhuis has been with the Sioux Center Community School District for 6 years. Her position at the school is Health Services Director. Sarah shared, “I love my job, it is truly my dream job. I especially love the relationships that I get to develop with the students. There is something special about each and every one of them.”
Sara also shared about last year, “COVID created a difficult to navigate year with many sadnesses and disappointments from students, parents and staff. Despite this, we were able to stay in school for the entire year. We worked very hard to send a consistent message and to follow the ever-changing recommendations. I work with 2 wonderful nurses and amazing administration that enabled that to happen.”
Becky Dykshorn has been the Kinsey Elementary School nurse for 6 years. Becky shared what she loves most about her job is, “As a school nurse, I have been given the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of the little people I see everyday.”
Becky also shared what she’s most proud of with her nursing team from the last year, “In a year that was full of questions and ever changing restrictions and guidance, we did our best to put the kids first. We were able to have in person classes the entire year.”
Elizabeth Roskam is the RN who works at the Middle and Intermediate Schools. She has been with Sioux Center Community Schools for 2 years. “Interacting and caring for students, from ice packs for a scrape/bump to being a listening ear to relieve stress of school/life,” is what Elizabeth shared is her favorite thing about her job.
Elizabeth shared what she was proud of from her first full year at Sioux Center Community, “I am proud to be part of the District Family. The support and appreciation that I received from staff and administration made it easy to care and love on the students, because of this support we were able to keep the kids in-person learning all year, which is an amazing accomplishment.”
The nurses went way beyond their expected “days” and have grown to be a very strong team with the guidance of Sarah TeGrotenhuis. Phone calls, texts and emails don’t stop when the school day ends. The hours spent counseling families through confusing and sometimes frustrating times was a huge emotional and physical commitment.– Mr. Gary McEldowney