APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR HEALTHCARE SCHOLARSHIPS & LOAN PROGRAM

posted on Monday, December 31, 2018 in General

Applications are now being accepted now through March 31, 2019 for three local healthcare education assistance programs which are administered by Spencer Hospital.

The Bennie B. and Ernestine F. Shine Scholarship, Adam J. Anderson Scholarship, and the Cornwall Loan Program are designed to help area students who are pursuing healthcare careers.

The Shine Scholarship fund 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 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.

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. 117 loans have been granted since 1977.  During that time over $122,825 has been loaned to area people involved in health education programs. 

The Anderson Scholarship fund, administered by Spencer Hospital, annually awards funds to persons living in the Spencer area to pursue education & training to become certified EMS provider (EMT through Paramedic). 

This scholarship was established by Duane Anderson of Webb and Marcia Anderson Taylor of Spencer 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.

The application deadline for both of the scholarships and for the loan program is March 31, 2019. Recipients will be notified of their award in April.  Students interested in applying for the scholarship or loan program should contact Danelle Stumbo, Human Resource Development Director at Spencer Hospital, 712-264-6623. Learn more about Spencer Hospital's scholarships