CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — The Parkland College Foundation has announced the creation of the Josh Gottheil Memorial Scholarship, a new fund designed to support non-traditional students enrolled in the Nursing-ADN program at Parkland College.
The scholarship will cover full tuition, fees, books, and other program-related expenses, helping expand access to education for students pursuing careers in nursing.
“Our family has been in Champaign-Urbana for a long time,” said Diane Gottheil, Josh’s mother. “We don’t want it to be a fund that just sits there. We want to support the community. Parkland College is one of the gems of our community.”
Born in 1969, Josh Gottheil developed a passion for music at a young age. As a teenager, he promoted concerts in the Champaign-Urbana area, bringing nationally known bands such as They Might Be Giants, Jane’s Addiction, Pixies, and The Flaming Lips to local audiences.
His sister, Lisa Gottheil, recalled their shared love of music and attending concerts together, including performances by Ramones and Black Flag.
“We both loved music,” said his sister Lisa Gottheil, with whom he attended many other area shows, including The Ramones, Black Flag, and The Kennedys. “I think he just realized he could see the bands he wanted to see by bringing them here and putting on shows.”
Josh later founded his own production company, Subversive Sounds, and enrolled at Parkland College in 1987, balancing school with his growing involvement in the music industry.
Just months into his first semester, Josh was diagnosed with lymphoma. Despite undergoing chemotherapy, he continued organizing concerts and remained active in the local music scene.
After a temporary recovery, he planned to expand his work to Chicago and St. Louis. However, his illness returned, and he underwent a bone marrow transplant at a hospital in St. Louis. Josh passed away on April 4, 1989, at the age of 19.
Inspired by the care he received, his family later established a memorial fund supporting oncology nurses through the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation. The fund has since helped more than 100 nurses worldwide advance their education and patient care skills.
The new scholarship ensures Josh’s legacy continues locally, supporting future nurses in the same community he impacted through music and connection.
For more information about the foundation and scholarship opportunities, visit parkland.edu/foundation.
