LIMA, Ohio (AP) — Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center is helping local high school students begin their journeys into the health care field by awarding scholarships across west-central Ohio.
The medical center awarded 20 scholarships to students in the region. More than 100 students applied for the $1,500 awards, with recipients selected based on academic achievement.
“It means a lot, I have worked really hard to get this scholarship. I have done a lot of things throughout my time in high school and I am excited to start my career. My family does foster care since I grew up, I have a couple siblings through foster care, and I've just seen like some of the things they've gone through, and it's just a good way for me to help people like them,” says Slade Gossman. Ada senior going for nursing.
Hospital leadership also shared their own experiences in medicine, highlighting their paths from local high schools to careers back in Lima — something they hope will inspire students to return to the area.
“It's great when we can celebrate some students that are planning on going into healthcare, and by celebrating these 20 students tonight, we know that this is a chance for them to learn that we're very committed to them, and hopefully that entices them to come back and work around here someday,” says Dr. Matt Owens, chief clinical officer at Mercy Health – St. Rita’s.
The scholarship recipients are:
- Rowan Clay — Ottoville
- Morgan Dockery — Continental
- Amy Figueroa — Lima Senior
- Isabella Fry — Waynesfield-Goshen
- Slade Gossman — Ada
- Danica Harmon — Lima Senior
- A’Najiah Harris — Lima Senior
- Sharvon Horace — Lima Senior
- Alexzandria Jones — Lima Senior
- Brenna Kimmet — Van Wert
- Greta Liebrecht — Ottawa-Glandorf
- Natalie Moeller — Parkway
- Ella Moritz — Shawnee
- Makayla Rader — Lima Senior
- Hannah Rindler — Marion Local
- Shevenne Shepherd — Paulding
- Jada Smith — Lima Senior
- Almira Soriano — Lima Senior
- Clay Stoller — Wayne Trace
- Emma Stolly — Shawnee
