Spencer Hospital administers several options of scholarships or low-interest loans for students pursuing higher education in a health field. Please contact our Human Resources Department at 264-6205 for more information.
For more information regarding the application process and eligibility for all of the financial aid programs administered through Spencer Hospital, please read the following: SH Student Financial Assistance Options
For a brief description of the various programs, please see below:
Forgivable Loan Opportunity for Second-Year Nursing Students
Bennie B. & Ernestine Shine Scholarship Fund
Ruth Cornwall Educational Loan Program
Adam J. Anderson Scholarship Program
Spencer Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Program
Spencer Hospital's Forgivable Loan Program for Iowa Lakes Community College nursing students
Spencer Hospital offers full-tuition, forgivable loans for second-year nursing students enrolled in Iowa Lakes Community College's Associate Degree Nursing program who will commit to three years of employment at Spencer Hospital.
Essentially, anyone who currently is an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and has been accepted into an ADN program, or who is preparing for a second year in a nursing program, is eligible to apply for a forgivable loan. The loan will cover the entire cost of tuition and fees, plus a $500 allowance toward books for those second-year ADN students. Upon graduation, those students who have received loans will be eligible for employment at Spencer Hospital. If they work at Spencer Hospital three years, the entire amount of the loan is forgiven. If they have to leave employment at Spencer Hospital for some reason prior to three years, the loan will be pro-rated based on the time they worked here.
Anyone who is interested in applying for a forgivable loan should contact Michael Schauer in Human Resources at 264-6642.
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Bennie B. and Ernestine Shine Scholarship
The Shine Scholarship fund, administered by Spencer Hospital, annually awards funds to persons who have completed at least one semester of a nursing or allied health program, such as radiology, therapy programs (respiratory care, speech, physical or occupational), medical technology, laboratory tech, paramedic training, pharmacy, etc. These programs are not intended to fund individuals pursuing a degree in medicine, dentistry, physician assistant or veterinary science.
Ben Shine was a former long-time trustee of the Spencer Hospital Board. His wife, Ernestine Shine, was active in the hospital auxiliary and served as president of that organization. The Shines recognized the importance of quality health care for their community and were actively involved in maintaining a quality and progressive hospital. One effort toward achieving this goal was the establishment of the Shine Scholarship.
To obtain further information about applying for a Shine Scholarship, contact Spencer Hospital's Human Resource Development Director at 712-264-6623. The application deadline for the Shine Scholarship is usually late March.
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Ruth Cornwall Educational Loan Program
The Ruth Cornwall Loan Program was created by Wilson Cornwall in memory of his wife, Ruth, who had received quality hospital care and later home care from Spencer Hospital during an extended illness. The Cornwall family wished to help local people interested in receiving healthcare education. To accomplish this, a low-interest loan program was created.
The application deadline for the Cornwall Loan is late March each year. Students interested in applying for the loan program should contact the Human Resource Development Director at Spencer Hospital, 712-264-6623.
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Adam J. Anderson Scholarship Program
The Adam J. Anderson Scholarship was created by Duane Anderson of Webb and Marcia Anderson Taylor of Santa Rosa, CA, in memory of their son Adam who died in January 2001 of cancer. Adam had worked as a volunteer on the Terril ambulance crew after graduating from Iowa Lakes Community College and later took a job as an EMT for Spencer Hospital. According to his mother, Adam’s goal was to obtain his paramedic certification and he was accepted into paramedic school in August 2000; however, his illness had progressed so much he was unable to attend. The scholarship is intended to honor Adam’s memory and his spirit, and to enable others to fulfill the dream to be of service to others as paramedics.
Spencer Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Program
The Spencer Hospital Auxiliary provides scholarships for persons enrolled in second, third or fourth year nursing or healthcare related accredited educational programs. Awards are paid directly to the school or program to cover tuition or other school related expenses. Application forms may be obtained by writing to the Auxiliary Scholarship Committee in care of Spencer Hospital, 1200 First Avenue East, Spencer, IA 51301, or calling 712-264-6145. Applications are accepted year round.
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