Nikki Lombardo and Xiomara Cosme
Pottstown Regional Community Foundation
The Smith family, Pottstown Regional Community Foundation and Creative Health Services have named Nikki Lombardo and Xiomara Cosme as the 2025 recipients of the Behavioral Health and Registered Nurse Student Loan Assistance Program powered by the Diana Smith Memorial Endowment.
Ms. Lombardo, a counselor at Creative Health Services, and Ms. Cosme, a counselor in the Boyertown Area School District, were selected from seven applicants in the program’s second year. Each recipient will receive $3,000 over two years for student loan repayment, helping reduce one barrier for professionals working in fields where local demand for behavioral health and health care services remains high.
The program’s funding comes from the Diana Smith Memorial Endowment, established in memory of Diana Smith, a beloved school nurse who served the Boyertown Area School District for 20 years. Ms. Smith’s family created the endowment to continue her commitment to students, families, and community health by supporting professionals who provide care close to home.
Ms. Cosme serves as a school-based counselor in the Boyertown Area School District. Her path to counseling was shaped by firsthand experiences with addiction, language barriers, and the importance of trusted support during difficult moments. Ms. Cosme expressed her desire to help students who share her background and language know they are not alone, and that they can move beyond feelings of hopelessness.
Ms. Lombardo is a counselor at Creative Health Services, where she has worked for more than 21 years. Ms. Lombardo’s interest in behavioral health began in adolescence, when a close friend faced serious mental health needs at a time when stigma was high and resources were limited. She later volunteered with a handbell choir for adults with physical and behavioral health challenges, an experience that connected her love of music with service to others.
Both recipients expressed a commitment to continuing their professional growth and using their experience to support children, families, and community members across the region.
The Behavioral Health and Registered Nurse Student Loan Assistance Program powered by the Diana Smith Memorial Endowment is designed to support and retain qualified professionals working in behavioral health and nursing roles in and around Boyertown, Pennsylvania.
Contact: Samuel Mirarchi at 610.323.2006.