The Carroll Hospital Center Foundation recently awarded scholarships worth $9,500 combined to six students to help them advance their education. Established by supporters of the hospital, the scholarships were presented during a special reception held inside the Shipley Classroom at Carroll Hospital Center on June 19. Close to 30 people attended, including the scholarship awardees, their family members, benefactors, Carroll Hospital Center staff and members of the committees responsible for choosing the awardees. The scholarships and recipients were as follows:
•The Libman Nursing Scholarship was awarded to Lauren Ciepiela, for the second consecutive year, and to Laura Colvin, both from Hampstead. The pair each received $2,000 to cover tuition, books and fees at Carroll Community College for their pursuit of a degree as a registered nurse. This scholarship, established in 2003 by Frank Herbert Libman, is awarded each year to Carroll County residents pursuing a nursing degree at Carroll Community College.
•The Scholarship for Dependents of Associates was awarded to Karissa O'Conner, of Littlestown. O'Conner received $2,000 towards her studies at Eastern University in the fall. The scholarship was established in 2006 by Dr. and Mrs. Michael Kane and is awarded to children of employees at Carroll Hospital Center or its affiliates. O'Conner is the daughter of Bobbi Snyder, an executive assistant at Carroll Hospital Center.
•The Physician of Indian Origin Scholarship was awarded to Carroll Hospital Center health navigator Melissa Zahn, R.N., of Hampstead, and Dove House hospice aide Jennifer Hudgins, of Hanover. Zahn, a three-time recipient of the scholarship, received a $500 check toward her studies at the University of Pheonix where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Hudgins, who was awarded the scholarship for the second consecutive year, also received a $500 check toward her tuition, as she pursues her nursing degree at Harrisburg Area Community College.
Launched in 2008, the Physician of Indian Origin Scholarship began with gifts pooled together from various physicians affiliated with Carroll Hospital Center including Drs. Binu Chacko, Dinesh Kalaria, Natvarlal Rajpara, Suresh Sidh and Sushma Sidh, and Kiran and Radhika Kuna. This scholarship was established to benefit associates in their pursuit of education.
•And, the Virginia Minnick Auxiliary Scholarship for Dependents of Associates was awarded to Aila Haghgoo, of Westminster, daughter of Taina Metsa-Mahka, a registered nurse at Carroll Hospital Center. A volunteer in the hospital's pharmacy department since 2012, Haghgoo received $2,500 towards her studies at Lecom Bradenton College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy in the fall. The scholarship was started by longtime Carroll Hospital Center Auxiliary member, Ms. Virginia Shipley Minnick, who allocated $50,000 from her estate to establish the scholarship.