The Hazel Hawkins Hospitals Foundation awarded $12,500 in
scholarships to local students pursuing a career in the medical
field.
The Hazel Hawkins Hospitals Foundation awarded $12,500 in scholarships to local students pursuing a career in the medical field.
Last year, the foundation received 23 applications and awarded 10 scholarships of between $500 and $1,000. The number of applications received by the scholarship committee increased to 31 this year, and an additional $2,500 was donated by the San Benito County Republican Women Federated, allowing the foundation to award more scholarships.
“The foundation was really happy to get that support,” said foundation director Leah Dowty.
Eighteen scholarships of $700 each were awarded. Thirteen went to nursing students, four to pre-med students and one to an individual already in medical school.
Scholarship Committee Chairperson Pat St. John said the applications were distributed throughout the community as well as in nursing programs at Gavilan, Cabrillo and Hartnell community colleges.
“In support of the hospital’s efforts to recruit and retain nurses, we gave preference to those applicants enrolled in accredited nursing programs,” St. John said. “Particularly those employed at Hazel Hawkins Hospital.”
Many of the applicants are going to school while working and raising families, St. John said.
“Some are just entering nursing while others are increasing their skills or going into nursing administration,” she said.
The 2003 Hazel Hawkins Hospitals Foundation Scholarship winners and the schools they are attending or will attend and their course majors are:
Lauren Adcock, San Benito High School 2003, entering Arizona State University nursing program; Marissa Alnas, University of California, Los Angeles, pre-med; Nancy Ammerman, Gavilan College, nursing administration; Karolina Bingley, Gavilan College, LVN program; Katie Brigantino, Gavilan College, nursing program; Athena Campos, Hartnell College, nursing program; Juana Cardenas, Gavilan College, LVN program; Jaclyn Denton, San Benito High School 2003, entering University of Notre Dame; Anita Gallardo, San Jose State University, Family Nurse Practitioner; Jonathan Hill, Brigham Young University, pre-med; Holly Kutz, California State University, Fresno, nursing program; Anna Martinez, Gavilan College, nursing program; Taylor Medina, San Benito High School 2003, entering CSU Fresno nursing program; Bjorn Nordstrom, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Heather Silva, Gavilan College, nursing program; Brenda Wilkerson, Gavilan College, nursing program; Nicole Wilson, Pacific Union College, pre-med; Celen Zepeda, Stanford University, pre-med.
