Fond du Lac hospital awarded for stroke care, presentation on election reform set, and more news in weekly dose

Mara Wegner, Fond du Lac Reporter
·6 min read
SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Stroke team members celebrate their recent Get With The Guidelines honor. Pictured are, from left, Renae Patrick, nurse practitioner; Dr. Xian-Feng Gu, neurologist; and Stacey Sesing, program coordinator.
SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Stroke team members celebrate their recent Get With The Guidelines honor. Pictured are, from left, Renae Patrick, nurse practitioner; Dr. Xian-Feng Gu, neurologist; and Stacey Sesing, program coordinator.

FOND DU LAC - The American Heart Association has awarded SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital its Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Silver Plus quality achievement award.

To be part of the program, the organization shows how it provides quality care for stroke patients according to treatment guidelines. They also educate patients so they can manage their health and recovery at home.

“SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” Stacey Sesing, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Stroke and Inpatient Rehabilitation program coordinator, said in a news release. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better.”

Welcome to your weekly dose. Here is more news from throughout Fond du Lac County.

Oil change event to benefit Take 'em Outdoors

Matthews Tire will host its annual Oil Change for the Better event at its six local sites, including in Fond du Lac at 562 W. Johnson St.

From July 24 to 28 and July 31 to Aug. 4, Matthews Tire will donate $15 to Take ‘em Outdoors for each regular-priced oil change.

“Take ‘em Outdoors officially began in 2006 when a donation I received funded our first Battle on the Bay fishing event,” Take ‘em Outdoors founder and president, Shad Loch, said in a press release. “Since then, we’ve been operating as a volunteer-only nonprofit that covers the food, lodging, transportation, tools, trophies and more for the kids or veterans we take on fishing or hunting trips.”

July 24 presentation will focus on election reform

Dr. Douglas Frank will present “Seven Steps to Taking Back our Elections” from 6 to 8 p.m. July 24 at American Legion Trier-Puddy Post 75, 500 Fond du Lac Ave., Fond du Lac.

The presentation is hosted by “North of 29,” a Wisconsin Election Reform Movement along with Recipes for Freedom - Fond du Lac.

Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

For more information, contact Stephanie at 608-797-3338 or patriotsunited2021@yahoo.com.

St. Agnes Hospital nurse honored with DAISY Award

Kayla Hoff, RN, 4 South, has been recognized with a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognizes the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family.

Kayla Hoff, right, a registered nurse with SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital, was recently recognized with a Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses. She is pictured with Julie Hernandez, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital 4 South Manager
Kayla Hoff, right, a registered nurse with SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital, was recently recognized with a Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses. She is pictured with Julie Hernandez, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital 4 South Manager

Hoff was recognized recently during a brief ceremony. She received a certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by the Professional Development Council at St. Agnes Hospital based on specific criteria to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented to one recipient on a quarterly basis at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients and visitors.

For more information, visit DAISYfoundation.org.

Moraine Park District Board swears in three new members

At its July 10 meeting, the Moraine Park District Board swore in three members. They are Mike Schwab of Jackson, Diane Guerrero of Beaver Dam and Melissa Kescenovitz of West Bend. They will serve three-year terms ending in June 2026.

Diane Guerrero
Diane Guerrero
Melissa Kescenovitz
Melissa Kescenovitz
Mike Schwab
Mike Schwab

Kescenovitz and Guerrero will serve as additional members, and Schwab will serve as an elected official member as secretary. The other board officers for the 2023-24 year are Chairperson Tom Hopp of West Bend, Vice Chairperson Bur Zeratsky of Green Lake and Treasurer Sara Hintz of Beaver Dam.

For more information, visit morainepark.edu.

SSM Health announces local scholarship awards

SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac has awarded scholarships to eight local students who intend to pursue careers in health care.

Recipients of $2,000 scholarships from SSM Health Volunteer services are the following:

  • Isabella Meisenheimer, Lomira High School, plans to pursue a career in nursing at Milwaukee School of Engineering;

  • Lauren Liethen, St. Mary’s Springs Academy, plans to attend Concordia University of Wisconsin to pursue a degree as a registered nurse;

  • Marissa Adamavich, Mayville High School, plans to attend University of Wisconsin-Madison and pursue a career in nursing; and

  • Olivia Jennings, Ripon High School, plans to attend University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to pursue an orthopedics physician’s assistant degree.

Recipients of the Waupun Memorial Hospital Volunteers $2,000 scholarship are the following:

  • Kamber Pekarske, Randolph High School, plans on pursuing a career in nursing at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; and

  • Avery Slings, Central Wisconsin Christian, plans to pursue a degree in speech language pathology at Calvin University.

Recipient of the SSM Health Volunteers Technical School $1,000 scholarship is Talia Erdmann, Laconia High School, who plans to attend Moraine Park Technical College and pursue a career as a registered nurse.

Scholarships awarded by National Exchange Bank

National Exchange Bank & Trust has awarded scholarships to children of its employees. The scholarships are awarded in partnership with the Fond du Lac Area Foundation. Renewable scholarships are available for $4,000 per year for a baccalaureate degree and $3,000 per year for a technical college degree.

Students were judged on articulated financial need, academic achievement, school involvement, work experience, community and volunteer involvement, and a personal statement.

This year’s recipients are:

  • Greta Benzinger, daughter of Bob Benzinger, VP of retail banking, South Main Street Fond du Lac office; plans to attend UW-La Crosse to major in biology.

  • Vincent De Ceuster, son of Dolf De Ceuster, VP of commercial lending at the West Bend office; currently attends UW-Platteville majoring in soil and crop science.

  • Raelynn Hansen, daughter of Tina Hansen, customer service representative at the Omro office; plans to major in finance at UW-Stevens Point.

  • Kyle Harms, son of Tamara Harms, personal banker at the Chilton office; currently attends UW-Stevens Point majoring in business administration and management.

  • Mercedes Herrmann, daughter of Sara Herrmann, personal banker at the Campbellsport office; plans to major in political science and Spanish at Ohio State University.

  • Gavin Jahns, son of Laura Jahns, assistant VP and mortgage loan officer at the South Main Street Fond du Lac office; plans to attend Marian University.

  • Taylor Jahns, daughter of Laura Jahns, assistant VP dent and mortgage loan officer at the South Main Street Fond du Lac office; majoring in graphic design at UW-Oshkosh.

  • Britney Laatsch, daughter of Michelle Laatsch, a lien documentation specialist at the operations office in Fond du Lac; currently attends Marquette University majoring in exercise physiology.

  • Megan Pomplun, daughter of Sherry Pomplun, customer service representative at the Pardeeville office; currently majoring in biology at UW-Madison.

  • Gavin VandeKolk, son of Jodi VandeKolk, imaging representative at the South Main Street Fond du Lac office; majoring in finance at UW-Green Bay.

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Contact Mara Wegner at mwegner@gannett.com or 920-996-7241.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac hospital St. Agnes wins award for good stroke care