Bothwell Auxiliary awards three health care scholarships
Three $2,500 scholarships were recently awarded to area health care students by the Bothwell Auxiliary. Scholarships were given to Elisa French, Rachel Gammill and Jennifer Owen.
French lives in Knob Noster and plans to enroll in the Licensed Practical Nursing program at State Fair Community College.
Gammill, Sedalia, is a Certified Medical Assistant at Bothwell Regional Health Center. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Missouri Valley College.
Owen lives in Sedalia and plans to pursue an associate degree in Nursing at State Fair Community College.
Shirley Evans, Bothwell Auxiliary Scholarship Committee chair, said she and the committee were pleased by the applicant pool this year. The committee includes Evans, Sue Heckart, Carolyn Sperry and Auxiliary President Jackie Butler.
“After reviewing all of the scholarship applications, the Auxiliary board approved awarding three scholarships even though we typically only award one or two,” she said. “The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage beginning and advanced nursing students to pursue or advance their nursing education and, in doing so, we hope it helps mitigate the ongoing nursing shortage.”
Michele Laas, Bothwell’s Chief Nursing Officer, said the administration is grateful for the Auxiliary’s continued dedication to funding nursing education.
“The need for nurses is critical,” she said. “For some, beginning or continuing their education can cause great financial strain. For others, it might not be an option at all. Scholarships like those awarded by the Auxiliary are what encourage new and current nurses to take that leap of faith.”
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 46 scholarships totaling nearly $70,000.
For more information about becoming a member of the auxiliary, contact Membership Chair Sarah Lyles at 660.827.0343.
