The Searor family from Gilbert awarded the $5,000 Joseph Joshua Searor Memorial Scholarship on March 19 to five recipients.  

The scholarship’s mission is to aim award mid-career individuals pursuing a degree in nursing a scholarship to make the leap of faith.  

Doing so honors Joe Searor's memory by helping people realize a bold and daring vision of a better future, according to scholarship organization bold.org. 

The five winners are:  

• JaShae’ Jackson, West Coast University-Dallas; 
• Jason Burgess, University of South Carolina-Columbia; 
• Helen Haddick, Walden University; 
• Amanda O’Shea, University of Florida; 
• Renee Daniels, Austin Community College District. 

Searor was a beloved brother who died last year at age 41. 

Searor was returning to school to pursue a master’s degree in nursing in order to become a nurse practitioner when he died, according to bold.org. 

The scholarship seeks to honor the life of Searor by supporting students who share his passion for nursing and education, according to bold.org. 

The scholarship application was open to any undergraduate, trade school, or graduate student who is pursuing nursing, but non-traditional students and/or second-career students were preferred, according to bold.org. 

Applicants had to tell about their educational journey and the “aha” moment when they realized they wanted to be a nurse.