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THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE:
PROVIDENCE SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT
LOCAL STUDENTS HEALTH CARE CAREER GOALS
May 29, 2009
 HOOD RIVER, Ore. – Loud cheers, smiling faces and tear-filled eyes revealed students’ emotions at the annual presentation of scholarship awards at Hood River Valley High School last night. Three students hoping to become health care professionals, all graduating Hood River Valley high school seniors, were selected to receive $1,000 scholarships from Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.
Kylie McPherson received Providence Hood River’s Medical Field Scholarship. She plans to major in chemistry and cognitive science at Occidental College in Los Angeles, with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. Kylie was inspired by a real life experience. “During my sophomore year in high school, I witnessed a miracle – a close friend was diagnosed with … an abnormal tangle of blood vessels in the brain and needed emergency brain surgery,” Kylie wrote in her application. “Prior to the surgery, we were told he would likely be paralyzed and have severe memory loss. But after the surgery, he had none of the endless list of side effects – a miracle. I want to give a family hope. I want to save the lives of others. I want to become a surgeon. I want to create miracles.”
Elsa Avila received Providence’s Alieen Gaddy Nursing Scholarship and will begin nursing studies at Oregon State University this fall. “Every since I was a little girl I have wanted to be a nurse,” Avila wrote in her scholarship application. “I would carry around my first aid kit. If I saw anyone with a scratch I would put a band-aid on them. Since then, watching other nurses has motivated me to keep pursuing my goal.”
Loreto Ramos received Providence’s Sandy Wood Memorial Medical Staff Scholarship and will pursue a career in medicine. She will attend Western Oregon University, majoring in biology. “As a little girl, I enjoyed trips to the doctor or dentist because I found it fascinating. I thought they were the coolest people because they use all those little instruments to treat people,” wrote Ramos. “Now I want to be a doctor. Knowing you can save a life is the biggest reward.”
Providence Hood River received more than 30 applications from local high school seniors seeking health care scholarships in support of their college plans. Members of Providence’s nursing, clinical and support staff reviewed each application thoroughly before selecting the winners.
“Our scholarship review team was impressed with the number of dedicated and inspired students wanting to pursue health careers,” said Providence Hood River outreach manager Maria Elena Castro, who coordinates the scholarship program. “We hope all of these impressive students achieve their goals and come back to Hood River to help make our community stronger and healthier.”
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Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital is part of Providence Health & Services, the state’s largest health system and second-largest private employer. Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital is a full-service, critical-access hospital with a 24-hour Emergency Department. Providence offers a wide range of health care services in the communities of the Columbia River Gorge through its clinics, care centers and senior living facilities.
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