JoLynn DeFrancisco Mabie Scholarship

The JoLynn DeFrancisco Mabie Scholarship was established in 1985, one year after JoLynn’s tragic death from injuries sustained in a car accident. The scholarship was founded by her husband, Dennis Mabie, to honor JoLynn’s legacy at DMACC and her nursing career by creating a scholarship exclusively for students pursuing their nursing degree.

JoLynn was a DMACC nursing school graduate, who shortly after her graduation in 1980 became involved on the DMACC Alumni Association Board. She quickly and eagerly supported the Association’s efforts to provide scholarships to DMACC students. Following graduation she worked on the oncology floor at Des Moines General Hospital, and then later transitioned to the emergency room. JoLynn was a member of the Iowa Nursing Association.

The ultimate goal of this scholarship has been to award the scholarship to students pursuing a nursing career and who exemplify the same values, desire and drive that JoLynn exhibited. She was so very proud of her nursing degree and her association with DMACC. Even though she wasn’t the best student in her class, she had wanted to be an RN since childhood, and her great work ethic carried her through the very tough program. She always had to work hard to reach her goals, and took great pride in doing the best she could – at everything she did. She was extremely organized in both her personal and professional life. JoLynn took her nursing responsibilities seriously, with the utmost care, and prided herself on accuracy. JoLynn’s drive to become a nurse stemmed from her constant struggle to manage her severe asthma since early childhood.