Students earn scholarships from MedStar St. Mary’s
MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown recently awarded seven local students with scholarships totaling approximately $168,000 to pursue careers in nursing and allied health.
“We were very impressed by all of this year’s applicants,” said Rick Tepel, chair of the scholarship committee. “It is inspiring to meet all of the candidates and learn about their plans. We look forward to the great work they’ll be doing here in our community after graduation.”
This year’s scholarship recipients with their fields of study are:
• Tucker Arvin of St. Inigoes, nursing.
• Amaya Butler of Waldorf, nursing.
• Kimberly Campbell of Lusby, medical laboratory science.
• Angela Cox of California, Md., nursing.
• Sydney Marshall of Port Tobacco, radiology.
• Alexandra Myers of Great Mills, nursing.
• Madison Richards of Clements, nursing.
At a May 24 reception, speaker Christine Taylor, a registered nurse, discussed how the hospital scholarship helped her to begin a nursing program at age 33.
“I was terrified, but I knew this would be the best move for my family,” said Taylor, who was encouraged to enroll by the doctors with whom she was then working as a medical assistant. “So with a
5-year-old, a 15-month-old, a husband on shift work and a full-time job myself, I enrolled in my very first college class. Often I spent my nights with my son in one arm and a nursing book in the other.”
Taylor went on to graduate with honors from the College of Southern Maryland in 2010. She became an operating room nurse before transitioning to work as an outpatient care coordinator and breast navigator at MedStar St. Mary’s.
Taylor found renewed purpose in working directly with patients to navigate life beyond a breast cancer diagnosis — a cause close to her heart, as she herself is a survivor. Taylor became the Susan G. Komen grant facilitator in 2016, and also organizes the hospital’s monthly Breast Cancer Support Group.
“None of this would have been possible without the support of the hospital,” she continued. “This scholarship is what put me on the path to achieve my goals and be successful. It is a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together.”
The Philanthropy Committee, formerly the St. Mar y’s Hospital Foundation, is a subset of MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital’s board of directors. Including the 2018 recipients, 149 students have received tuition support to help ensure the future of quality local healthcare. Applications are due each spring. For more information, go to MedStarStMarys.org/Scholarships.
Funds for the scholarship program are raised through the hospital’s annual Gala. This year’s event, A Mad Adventure, will be held Nov. 16 at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department’s Social Hall. Go to MedStarStMarys.org/MadAdventure to become a sponsor.