While in the past the foundation has awarded many small
scholarships to several local students, it is now making a
commitment to invest in the future workforce of ALMH through its
Healthcare Career Scholarship. Students who earn the scholarships
agree to work their first job out of college at ALMH.
"We think supporting the studies of two students who have made
job commitments with ALMH reflects the mission of both the
foundation and the hospital," said Eric Graue, chairman of the ALHF.
"This forward-thinking approach is a win-win-win situation for the
hospital, the foundation and the students."
Hannah Sheley, a second-year pharmacy student at Southern
Illinois University at Edwardsville, was awarded $30,000 for her six
years of studies. A native of Lincoln, Hannah has worked as a
pharmacy technician at Walgreens for more than three years.
"I was just ecstatic to find out I won the scholarship," Hannah
said. "There was nothing better than finding out that out of two
people, you're one of the two to get it."
Betsy Leesman, a first-year nursing student at Southern Illinois
University at Edwardsville, was awarded $20,000 for her studies. A
native of Emden, Betsy has chosen nursing as a career because of the
influence of family members who have worked in the medical field,
combined with her desire to help others.
She was surprised to learn she was awarded a generous scholarship
and is certain that working in a smaller hospital is the perfect
place for her. "It's really going to help as far as school goes,"
Betsy said.
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The candidates went through a rigorous application process that
included answering short essay questions, interviews, reference
checks and job shadowing at ALMH.
"We are inspired by all the students who applied for these
scholarships and competed for the awards," said Dolan Dalpoas,
president and chief executive officer of Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital. "We think Betsy and Hannah are standouts in the community
and will be assets to our hospital when they join the team in
several years."
Abraham Lincoln
Memorial Hospital is a community-based critical-access hospital
serving the people of Logan and eastern Mason County. The Abraham
Lincoln Healthcare Foundation was formed in 1986 to support the
mission of ALMH. Contributions to the scholarship fund are welcome
at any time. To learn more about this and other foundation programs,
visit www.almh.org. [Text from file received
from Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital]
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