Since 1985, Union Health Foundation has awarded almost $800,000 to nearly 700 area students seeking careers in nursing, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, medical research, pharmacy, and athletic training as well as other academic majors.
“As we face a national shortage of healthcare professionals, one of the most significant investments we can make is to provide financial assistance to students in our community wishing to pursue higher education and careers in the medical field. We are incredibly thankful to our generous community members who support the scholarship program and make this possible,” said Foundation President Joel Harbaugh.
In 2023, Union Health Foundation awarded 31 scholarships totaling $41,000 to 28 students from the Wabash Valley for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year. Recipients were honored during a ceremony at Union Hospital in May.
This year’s recipients included 19 nursing students and seven seeking health sciences or healthcare-related degrees.
Thanks to generous gifts from the H. Ingrid Stoelting estate and additional contributions to existing funds, Union Health Foundation increased its scholarship distribution by $13,500 and expects it to rise 50 percent over the next two to three years.
Additionally, this year, three new scholarship funds were established in memory of Randy Stevens, M.D., Sally Zuel, RN, and long-time hospital legal counsel, Curt Wilkinson, to be awarded in future years.
Scholarship Applications are currently closed and will reopen in early 2024.
Click here to access the online scholarship application portal.