The CalvertHealth Foundation recently awarded scholarships to 32 students pursuing higher education in an allied health or medical field. The students were honored in a ceremony held on June 10, 2019. Since the scholarship program began in 1991, it has awarded more than 450 scholarships totaling $589,000 in student assistance.
Theresa Johnson, Executive Director for the Foundation, said, “We are honored to give such a great group of individuals tuition assistant to pursue an education in health care.” Although the majority of students are pursuing careers in nursing, others are working toward their educational goals in areas such as physical therapy and optometry.
Among the recipients was Samantha Simms who was selected to share a student’s perspective at the reception. Simms, at the age of 15, experienced the loss of someone close in her family. Following the incident, Simms decided she wanted to make a difference in patient care. She said,” Nursing is a lot of assessing and administering medications but a big part of nursing is being the patient’s advocate. There is something inherently noble about helping people when they need help the most.” Her experience inspired her to pursue nursing education at the College of Southern Maryland. She said, “Simply, what it means to be a nurse in one word; passion - passion to serve, to give and to care. A textbook can teach you disease processes and how to treat them but a textbook can’t teach you how to be a compassionate nurse or to truly love what you do.”
Foundation Board Chair Lynette Entzian said,” The Foundation is proud to award $49,000 in scholarships this year to local students who are working hard to earn degrees to give back to the community.”
The 2019 scholarship recipients are Carleigh Bartholomew , Stevenson University, Nursing; Katie Berkley, University of Lynchburg, Physician Assistant Medicine Program; Taylor Bowen, York College of PA, Nursing; MaryBrooke Burval, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Medical Degree; Natalie Cloak, Widener University, Nursing; Amanda Curran, Stevenson University, Nursing; Adam Davis, Salus University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Doctor of Optometry; Erin Farley, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Masters in Nursing Leadership; Ashley Farrell, York College of PA, Nursing; Hannah Gates, Stevenson, Nursing; Leianna Haines, College of Southern MD, Nursing; Meagan Hance, Salisbury University, Nursing; Kaitlyn Hilgenberg, College of Southern MD, Nursing; Kathleen Hyde, University of South Alabama, Family Nurse Practitioner; Kristi Kelly, College of Southern MD, Nursing; Tiffany Lyon, College of Southern MD, Nursing; Shannon Madison, West Virginia University, Nursing; Zoey Masters, Stevenson, Nursing; Kathleen McClellan, University of MD, Hearing and Speech Sciences; Meagan McCurry, St. George’s University, Doctor of Medicine; Emily McGuigan, Keuka College, Occupational Therapy; Sarah Miller, College of Southern MD, Nursing; Ashleigh Nicholas, York College of PA, Nursing; Brianna Palumbo, College of Southern MD, Nursing; Savanna Robbins, University of Alabama Huntsville, Nursing; Amy Shearer, University of MD Eastern Shore, Doctor of Physical Therapy; Samantha Simms, College of Southern MD, Nursing; Chad Smialek, Stevenson, Nursing; Cara Smithburger, College of Southern MD, Physical Therapy Assitant; Kristina Sproul, Grand Canyon University, Nursing; Kelsey Wilke, Johns Hopkins, Nursing; and Victoria Wolf, UMB School of Pharmacy, Pharm.D.
For more information, contact the Foundation office at 410.414.4570.
President and CEO Dean Teague and Foundation Board of Trustees Lynette Entzian, Chair pose with this year’s scholarship recipients.