Bothwell Auxiliary awards three health care scholarships

August 17, 2023
The Bothwell Auxiliary recently awarded three $2,500 health care educational scholarships. From left, Scholarship Committee members Carolyn Sperry, Sue Heckart and Shirley Evans and scholarship recipients Ashley Barnes, Stacey O'Donnell and Serena Cronk.
The Bothwell Auxiliary recently awarded three $2,500 health care educational scholarships. From left, Scholarship Committee members Carolyn Sperry, Sue Heckart and Shirley Evans and scholarship recipients Ashley Barnes, Stacey O’Donnell and Serena Cronk.

Three $2,500 scholarships were recently awarded to area health care students by the Bothwell Auxiliary. Scholarships were given to Ashley Barnes, Serena Cronk and Stacey O’Donnell.

Barnes is a Registered Nurse at Bothwell Regional Health Center in the Endoscopy department. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration at Western Governors University.

Cronk is a Registered Nurse at Bothwell Regional Health Center in the Progressive Care Unit. She plans to pursue a post-master’s certificate in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at Maryville University.

O’Donnell is a Registered Nurse in the Oncology department at Bothwell Regional Health Center. She plans to complete a bachelor’s degree in Nursing in December 2024 at Central Methodist University.

Shirley Evans, Bothwell Auxiliary Scholarship Committee chair, said she and the committee were pleased by the highly qualified recipients this year.

“We received applications from three nurses currently employed at Bothwell who are pursuing advanced degrees, preparing to enter nursing leadership positions or becoming a nurse practitioner,” Evans said. “The committee was so impressed with these three young women and we know they are on the path to become great nursing leaders.”

The Auxiliary Scholarship Committee includes Evans, Sue Heckart and Carolyn Sperry. Evans said the board recognizes the desperate need for great nurses.

“Although the auxiliary generally funds one or two scholarships, with such well-qualified applicants, the auxiliary board decided to fund three this year,” she said. “Awarding scholarships is a favorite of the board and the hope is the funds will enable more students to pursue advanced degrees in nursing or begin a nursing program.”

The Bothwell Auxiliary operates the Gift Shop located on the hospital’s ground floor. Sales and other fund-raising projects help fund scholarships and medical projects that support Bothwell Regional Health Center. Since 2003, the auxiliary has awarded 43 scholarships totaling over $62,000.

For more information about becoming a member of the auxiliary, contact Membership Chair Sarah Lyles at 660.827.0343.

Bothwell Regional Health Center is a regional health center serving west-central Missouri with state-of-the-art technology and comprehensive health and wellness services including primary care, specialty care and emergency care. For more information about Bothwell and its services, visit www.brhc.org or find us on Facebook.

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