$262,500 awarded in Year Three to support the growth and development of the nursing workforce in Northeastern Pennsylvania
SCRANTON, PA – In response to the acute shortage of nurses across the region and its effect on the health and wellness of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation announces it has awarded $262,500 in its third year towards nursing scholarships for local students as part of its Careers in Care initiative.
The Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Program has awarded 44 scholarships to students in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming Counties, and Carbon Counties who plan to pursue or who are pursuing nursing and who will practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania. These scholarship opportunities come during a time when there have been great strains on the healthcare workforce in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Program accepted applications and, through a rigorous and competitive application process, identified various qualified nursing students.
2023 recipients include Tiffany Ashton, Brooke Bird, Monique Barnes, Cleora Margaret Brown, Alexis Rose Bruno, Brianna Marie Burford, Jacqueline Burke, Angelica Maria Campbell, Amy Casagrande, Megan Ashley Chestnut, Izabella Grace Chmil, Markie Lynn Collum, Kristina Coy, Amanda Leanne Creighton, Monica Darjee, Ashley Ann DeFelice, Diane Jennings, Giana Francesca Good, Jennifer Jaffe, Jacob Janosky, Therese Catherine Young, Nikita Lynn Kraynak, Matthew Laboranti, Morgan Maslousky, Elizabeth McGuire, Meghan Lee McHale, Alyssa Kate Melisky, Katherine Grullon Mendoza, Karli M Muto, Kathleen Pascual, Samantha Rosselli, Vita M Roa, Tami Lee Rowlands, Autumn Olivia Steibler, Kacie Szczech, Alexis Marie Tanana, Frank Turnbaugh, Shaquayjah Iyonnah Anderson, Kathryn Gallagher, Chasity Girton, Kelly Smith, Ms Izabella Grace Chmil, Nicole O’Boyle, and Amber Zelno.
Scholarship recipients are attending a variety of schools, including Luzerne County Community College, Bloomsburg University, Lackawanna College, Penn State Scranton, Wilkes Barre Area Career & Technical Center, Marywood University, Clarion University, Misericordia University, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County, Graceland University, and Wilkes University.
To qualify for a Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship, individuals were required to show they have had a permanent address in Lackawanna, Luzerne, or Wyoming County for the last three years. Scholarships were available to those interested in obtaining a CNA and entering the healthcare workforce. Scholarships are also for anyone employed in the healthcare field in either Lackawanna, Luzerne, or Wyoming County and looking to advance as an LPN or RN/BSN. Additionally, students were invited to apply if they were in their third or fourth year of a four-year nursing degree and looking for financial assistance. Scholarship recipients were also asked to demonstrate a commitment to stay in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation also invited ‘nontraditional’ students or those looking to return to school to obtain a nursing degree to apply for a Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship.
2023 NEPA Health Care Foundation Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship recipients gather for a photo
Seated (l-r): Matthew Laboranti, Angelica Campbell, Izabella Chmil, Brianna Burford, Kathleen Pasual, and Monique Barnes; all Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Careers in Care Scholarship recipients.
Standing (l-r): Frank Caputo, Scranton Area Community Foundation Grants and Communications Coordinator; Mary Jane DiMattio; Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Committee Member; The Honorable Terrence Nealon, Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Board Member; Donna Martucci, Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Board Member; Dr. Jay Bannon, Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Board Member; Tracy Bannon, Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Committee Member; Michelle McGowan, Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Committee Member; Kerry O’Grady, Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Committee Member; Kari Machelli, Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Committee Member; Cathy Fitzpatrick, Scranton Area Community Foundation Grants and Scholarship Manager; Tina Jones, Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship Committee Member.
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the people of the region and particularly those most vulnerable and most underserved of the population. The Scranton Area Community Foundation, a community foundation that has been serving the people of the Lackawanna County region since 1954, serves as the administrator of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation.
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