The Paris Community Hospital Volunteers have awarded $2,000 in scholarships to help students further their education in the healthcare field.
Marcus Switzer of Paris received a one-year, $1,000 college scholarship. Currently a senior at Paris High School, Switzer will attend Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville to study nursing.
“My mom feels like nursing was her calling and I feel that way too,” he said. “I know a lot already because of my mom, and look forward to being the best nurse I can be.”
The PCH Volunteers also awarded two, $500 healthcare scholarships to PCH/FMC employees to continue their healthcare education.
DeAnn Brown, a laboratory technician for 23 years, will pursue a bachelor of science degree in medical technology at Eastern Illinois University.
“I will use the extra knowledge and degree to hopefully expand my career and maybe become a lab manager some day or a field technician for the laboratory instruments,” she said.
Stephanie Jones, health information (medical records) processor at PCH/FMC, also received a $500 scholarship. She plans to enroll in medical coding certification courses through AAPC, which provides training and credentialing services for medical coders.
“I intend to use this training to obtain certification as a medical coder to help further my career within the Health Information Department at Paris Community Hospital,” she said.
The Paris Community Hospital Volunteers recently announced the winners of their annual healthcare scholarships for the 2016-2017 school year. (Pictured left to right) Mary Marchello, Linda Brown, Marlene Brannick, Marcus Switzer (scholarship winner), Stephanie Jones (scholarship winner), and DeAnn Brown (scholarship winner).
The PCH Volunteer scholarships are available annually to Edgar County high school seniors, as well as PCH/FMC employees. The Volunteers conduct several events throughout the year to help fund the scholarships, including chocolate sales and book sales. Funds for the scholarships also come from proceeds from the hospital gift shop. The names of this year’s scholarship winners will be engraved on a plaque and permanently displayed near the gift shop.
