Susan K. Ipacs Nursing Legacy Endowed Scholarship

Sue Ipacs

Sue Ipacs’ character reflects her Appalachian heritage. Her mother(from Tyler County, West Virginia) and father (Ross County, Ohio) were self-reliant and independent, committed to a financially responsible lifestyle of hard work and industriousness. Her parents were kind and helpful toward others; their Christian beliefs and church fundamental to their home life. As a result, Sue had a preference to soothe and avoid conflict, though never to be confused with acquiescence or unwillingness to tenaciously defend her views. Like her parents, Sue put others at ease and will long be remembered for her compassionate nature

On her path to professional accomplishments, Sue had to overcome significant obstacles. After graduating from Chillicothe High School, her passion to help others led her to pursue a career in nursing. However, she abandoned her studies in favor of marriage, but soon found herself divorced and the mother of an infant daughter, Jill. Working a minimum wage job and feeling trapped by her life circumstances, Sue realized education was the key to a positive future for both her and her daughter and she was determined to complete her degree in nursing.

She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hocking College in 1977. Although a single working mother, Sue continued her studies and earned her BSN from Ohio University in 1984, again graduating Summa Cum Laude. In 1985, Sue became an instructor at Hocking College.

An accepting, warm woman, Sue embraced diversity. Perhaps this was most outwardly apparent in her marrying Joseph Ipacs, the son of Hungarian immigrants, in 1987. Sue became a mother again, giving birth to Joseph (“Joey”) in 1988 and Christopher (“Bo”) in 1990. Not to be deterred from her continued studies, Sue earned her Master’s Degree from Wright State in 1994 (Summa Cum Laude).

Although Sue could be described as cerebral and thoughtful, she was intensely passionate about her family and nursing. Her dedication, competence, and character led to Sue becoming an Associate Dean in the school of Nursing at Hocking College in 1999. Her professional memberships included the Ohio Council of Associate Degree Nursing Education Administrators, the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and the Education Advisory Council of the Ohio Board of Nursing.

Sue never lost her love of nursing and never forgot the circumstances that led to her college education. As a nursing instructor and associate dean, Sue strove to ease the burdens and obstacles facing students, while nurturing the passion to help others in all who surrounded her, both students and fellow colleagues. She felt a personal responsibility to recognize and attend to the underprivileged and non-traditional student. As so many depended on Sue for her compassion and dedication to the profession, it is the hope that students pursuing their nursing degree remember the reason behind the studies, and the importance of compassion for people.