Educational Funding Available for Local Healthcare Students

posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 in General

Applications are now being accepted for the Bennie B. and Ernestine F. Shine Scholarship, Adam J. Anderson Scholarship, and the Cornwall Loan Program.  All programs are designed to help area students pursue healthcare careers.

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.  The Corwall Loan Program is similarly designed to help local students in a healthcare field, by providing low-interest loans.

The Adam J. Anderson scholarship fund annually awards funds to persons pursuing education & training to become certified EMS provider (EMT through Paramedic). 

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. Since 1977, 118 loans have been granted.  During that time, over $124,825 has been loaned to area people involved in health education programs. 

The Adam J. Anderson Scholarship was created by Duane Anderson and Marcia Anderson Taylor 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. Adam’s goal was to obtain his paramedic certification and he had been 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 the Shine Scholarship, the Adam J. Anderson Scholarship and Cornwall Loan is March 31, 2022. Recipients will be notified of their award in May.  Students interested in applying for the scholarship or loan program should contact Danelle Stumbo, Human Resource Development Director at Spencer Hospital, 712-264-6623.

  1. education
  2. resources