MANSFIELD, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—North Central State College has recognized Stacy Pope, MSN, RN, an OhioHealth nursing leader who began her career as a home care aide, as its 2025 Alumnus of the Year.
Pope, a two-time NCSC graduate, was honored for her distinguished 25-year nursing career, her leadership in advancing nursing excellence, and her deep-rooted commitment to education and community service. She received the award Thursday at the North Central State College Foundation’s 26th annual Scholarship Luncheon & Program, held at the Ralph Phillips Conference Center – James W. Kehoe Center in Shelby.
Pope’s journey into nursing began unexpectedly in 1995. At 19, she took a position as a home care aide, unsure of her path. Her first client, a terminal liver cancer patient named Wilma, needed companionship more than medical care.
“We watched baseball games and shared stories. She just needed someone to be there,” Pope said. “When she passed away quietly with me at her side, I knew I had found my calling.”
Despite facing academic hurdles and limited family experience with higher education, Pope enrolled at North Central State College. “I didn’t have study skills or confidence,” she recalled. “But NCSC gave me the tools and encouragement to succeed.” She graduated from the Practical Nursing program in 1999 and returned for the Associate Degree in Nursing in 2011.
Now celebrating 25 years with OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals, Pope has served in Med-Surg, Obstetrics, Hospice, and Labor and Delivery roles. Today, she is the Manager of Nursing Excellence, where she helped lead OhioHealth Mansfield to its first Magnet® designation in 2023—an elite national recognition for nursing quality.
Pope is also known for her dedication to professional development, mentoring new nurses, and partnering with NCSC to expand educational access for OhioHealth associates. She often inspires lifelong learning by asking graduates, “What’s next?”
“North Central didn’t just give me a nursing degree—it gave me a future,” said Pope, who lives in Crestline, Ohio, with her husband, Eric. “And that future has allowed me to give back to my community in ways I never imagined.”
Pope credits NCSC for her success and for inspiring her mother and sister to also pursue healthcare degrees, making nursing a legacy in her family. North Central State College honored Pope for her resilience, leadership, and lifelong commitment to caring for others.