May 13, 2010

The Volunteers at Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center announce three scholarship winners selected from applications received for the 2010-2011 school year. Two of the Edgar County students are graduating seniors and the third is a continuing student in college.

 Maureen Elizabeth Sullivan of Paris and Shane Corbin Anderson of Chrisman will each receive a one-year $1,000 scholarship to further their education in the healthcare field.

In addition, Kirsten Wickman of Mattoon, a student at Lake Land College, has earned a $1,000 scholarship toward her continued education in healthcare. The continuing-education scholarship is new this year, sponsored by the hospital volunteers.

 Sullivan, a senior at Paris Cooperative High School, will attend Indiana State University in the fall, majoring in dietetics. She plans to become certified as a Registered Dietician.

 “My goal is to help people who may be facing diabetes or heart problems, and healthcare is where all my strong points in life are tied together,” Sullivan said.

Anderson plans to attend the University of Illinois, with eyes toward a degree in pharmacy through the College of Applied Health Sciences. The Chrisman High School senior hopes one day to own and operate his own pharmaceutical store in a small community, while staying closely connected with his customers and involved as an active member of his community.

“The idea of helping and interacting with people has always been appealing to me, and I believe working in a career of pharmacy would give me the opportunity and privilege to accomplish this aspiration,” Anderson said.

Wickman is a Kansas High School graduate, currently pursuing credits at Lake Land College toward a nursing career through Lakeview College of Nursing. She is employed at a pizza restaurant in Mattoon, does volunteer work at nursing homes and spends time at the humane society with animals. She is a past recipient of the PCH/FMC Volunteers scholarship.

The hospital volunteers conduct several fundraising events throughout the year to enable the award of scholarships annually. Scholarship recipients were determined by a five member committee comprised of a scholarship committee of three, plus two members of the volunteers or the healthcare field.

The names of annual recipients will be engraved on a plaque which will be on permanent display in or near the hospital’s Gift Shop.

The scholarship winners were revealed at the May 10 meeting of the volunteers.