The Conway Regional Health Foundation has awarded $18,000 in scholarships to 15 area students who are pursuing higher education in the health care field. The scholarships were presented during a reception for the recipients on April 25 in the Conway Regional Women's Center.
Seven of the scholarships are funded through contributions from physicians on the Conway Regional medical staff. A trust established by the late James S. Garrison, M.D., is funding two other scholarships. Garrison was the first full-time radiologist at Conway Regional. Funds contributed through the trust of the late Millie Garrison, Dr. Garrison's mother, are helping continue the scholarships as well.
Two scholarships are provided through the health system's Nursing Retention and Recruitment Committee. Individual employees make contributions to the fund and the committee holds fundraisers to help build the scholarships. One scholarship is awarded in memory of Clemmie Cook, RN, a highly-respected night supervisor on the nursing staff. This is the second year for the Lawanna Thessing Laboratory Scholarship to be awarded. The scholarship memorializes a respected microbiology supervisor at Conway Regional.
The Lauton Hall Memorial Scholarship, the John and Janice Robbins Scholarship and Mary Ann Stiefvater Scholarship are funded by private donations. The Robbins scholarship was established by the Conway Regional Women's Council in 2007 to honor the efforts of both John and Janice Robbins as they worked to create and grow the Women's Council. The Lauton Hall Scholarship honors the late father-in-law of John Robbins. The Stiefvater scholarship was establish to honor and recognize Mary Ann Stiefvater, who spent 50 years leading and developing the Medical Information Department at Conway Regional.
The scholarships are awarded based on grade point average, leadership ability, activities, and financial need. The Conway Regional Health Foundation administers all the scholarship funds.
"This is a great example of how physicians and other donors can give back to the community through contributions to the Health Foundation," said Jim Lambert, Interim President and CEO of Conway Regional Health System "These scholarships are designed to help young people continue to pursue careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy and other health-related fields. This type of support is essential to the future of health care in our community."
Garrison scholarship recipients are Kara Lindsey Bonds of Conway, a graduate of Clinton High School, who is pursuing a bachelor's of science degree in nursing at UCA. She is employed as a multiskilled assistant in the Conway Regional Emergency Department; and Amy Christina Doyle of Conway, who is a graduate of Conway High School, and is pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing from UCA. She is currently employed as a multiskilled assistant at Conway Regional Medical Center.
Receiving the Lauton Hall Memorial Scholarship is Brittany Jean Zielstra of Conway, a graduate of Conway High School, who is seeking a degree in physical therapy from UCA.
Receiving the John and Janice Robbins Scholarship is Brittany Lea Whitmore of Conway, a graduate of Conway High School, who is pursuing a pharmacy degree in the School of Pharmacy at Xavier University in Louisiana.
Receiving Medical Staff scholarships are Daniel Joseph Antoine of Conway, a graduate of St. Joseph High School, who is pursuing a biology/chemistry degree at UCA; Summer Ann Lewis of Conway, a graduate of Foreman High School, who is pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy at UCA; Ryan Reece Phillips of North Little Rock, a graduate of Mayflower High School, who is currently pursuing a doctorate of pharmacy in the UAMS College of Pharmacy; Elizabeth Lee Reinhard of Conway, a graduate of St. Joseph High School, who is pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing at UCA; Caleb Andrew Seiter of Conway, a graduate of St. Joseph High School, who is seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing from UCA; and Katelin Dianne Whiddon of Conway, a graduate of Conway High, is currently working on her master's degree in nursing from UCA and will receive her bachelor's degree from UCA in May and is employed with the Conway Digestive Health Center and at UAMS.
Receiving the Dr. William Furlow Scholarship is Katie Elizabeth Blankenship of Conway, a home school graduate, who is working toward a bachelor's degree in biology from UCA. She works at Conway Regional as a tech in the GI Lab.
Conway Regional Nursing Scholarships were awarded as follows: the Clemmie Cook Scholarship was awarded to Natalie Cypert of Conway, a graduate of Conway High School, who is seeking a bachelor's of science degree in nursing at UCA. She works as a lab assistant in the Clinical Laboratory at Conway Regional. The General Nursing Scholarship is awarded to Rebecca Claire Battles of Greenbrier, a graduate of Conway High, who is seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing from Arkansas Tech University. She is currently employed as multiskilled assistant in the Conway Regional Women's Infants' Services.
Receiving the Lawanna Thessing Laboratory Scholarship is Samuel Dale Evert of Conway, a graduate of Van Buren High School is working toward a bachelor's degree in medical technology at UAMS and holds a bachelor's of science degree in biology from UA-Forth Smith. He works in the laboratory at Conway Regional.
Receiving the Mary Ann Stiefvater Scholarship is Michelle Marie Curtis of Huntsville, a graduate of Kingston High School, who is working toward a bachelor's degree in health information management at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.
Contributions can be made to any of these scholarships by contacting the Conway Regional Health Foundation office at 513-5778 or by donating online at www.conwayregional.org.
