05 May 2014 Conway Regional Health Foundation awards scholarships to 14 students
The Conway Regional Health Foundation recently awarded scholarships to 14 area students, totaling $25,800.
All the scholarship recipients are pursuing education in an advanced health care related field. The students received scholarships based on grade point average, leadership ability, activities and financial need. Scholarship recipients and their families were recognized during a reception in the Conway Regional Auditorium.
The scholarships are funded by private donations to the Health Foundation. Conway Regional President and CEO Jim Lambert recognized the support of the medical staff which donated funds for seven of the scholarships as well as several private scholarship donors. “This type of support is essential to the future of health care in our community,” he said. “This is a great example of how physicians and other donors can give back to the community through contributions to the Health Foundation.”
Lori Ross, chief development officer for Conway Regional Health System, helped present the scholarships and told of the history behind each award.
This year’s group of scholarship recipients includes students who aspire to become doctors, nurses, therapists and radiology technologists. These students come from a variety of public and private school backgrounds and have been accepted or are currently pursuing higher education at the University of Arkansas for Medicine Sciences, University of Central Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Physicians on the Conway Regional medical staff make an annual donation to fund scholarships. The six Conway Regional Medical Staff recipients are:
- Joshua Ryan Blaylock of Little Rock is a student in the UAMS College of Medicine. Blaylock holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He is a graduate of Conway High School.
- Kaitlyn Brickey of Greenbrier will pursue a bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She is scheduled to graduate from Greenbrier High School.
- Antonia Michelle Byrd of Conway is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in radiography at UCA. She is a graduate of Conway High School.
- Andrea Eades of Conway is working toward a bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She is a graduate of St. Joseph High School.
- Emily Jean Smithson of Little Rock is pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy from UCA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in allied health from Hendrix College. She is a graduate of Conway High School.
- Morgan Danielle Sweere of Conway will pursue a bachelor’s degree in iology at UCA. She is scheduled to graduate from Conway High School.
Another medical staff scholarship is named after Dr. William Furlow, a retired Conway physician. The recipient this year is Kaleb Brent Smithson of Little Rock, who is working toward a medical degree at UAMS. He plans to become an orthopedic surgeon. Smithson holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UCA. He is a graduate of Greenbrier High School.
Two students received the Dr. James S. Garrison Scholarship which is given in honor of the late Dr. Garrison, a radiologist who began the Conway Regional Radiology Department:
- Wilson M. Alobuia of Little Rock is pursuing a medical degree from UAMS. He holds a biology degree from UCA. He is a native of Ghana.
- Kelsey Davidson of Conway is pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy at UCA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from UCA and is a graduate of St. Joseph High School.
The Clemmie Cook Nursing Scholarship went to Kelsey Johnson who is enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at UCA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UCA and is employed as a registered nurse at the Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. She is a graduate of Stevens Hills School in Rapid City, S.D.
The Eleanor Duncan Scholarship memorializes a highly-respected oncology nurse at Conway Regional. Mallori Kunkel of Greenbrier is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the Baptist Health School of Nursing in Little Rock. She is a graduate of Greenbrier High School.
A scholarship is funded, annually, through the Conway Regional’s Nursing Retention and Recruitment Committee. Individual employees make contributions to the fund and the committee holds fundraisers to replenish the scholarships. The Conway Regional Nursing Scholarship was awarded to Kristian Erin Simon of Conway, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UCA. She is a graduate of Conway High School.
The John and Janice Robbins Scholarship is funded by the Conway Regional Women’s Council in honor of contributions to the community made by the former president and CEO of Conway Regional and his wife. This year’s recipient is Hailey Oosterloo of Conway. She will pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UCA and is scheduled to graduate from Conway High School this year.
The Conway Regional Nursing Recruitment Scholarship, a one-time scholarship, was awarded to Kristen Oleta Loeschel of Conway. She is working toward a bachelor’s degree in nursing at UCA. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and is a graduate of Cabot High School.
Anyone who is interested in contributing toward a health care scholarship fund at Conway Regional can contact Dot Welch, associate director of the Conway Regional Health Foundation, at 501.513.577
1 or donate online at http://www.conwayregional.org/Foundation.
