supporting the medical community
The Future of Medicine
One of the strongest ways we can support the doctors and nurses of today is by ensuring that the next generation of medical professionals doesn’t face undue financial hardship in pursuing their dreams. That’s why, for thirty years, we’ve provided scholarships to students in health care fields like nursing, radiography, dental assisting, and more—so that when we need help, it will be there.
Health care careers also tend to be among the highest paying jobs in our community, which helps families thrive. Last year, the Foundation provided $76,000 in new scholarships and renewals of awards made the previous year. Each student received $2,000 for their academic year, and students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to renew their award the following year.
How to Apply
NEW APPLICANTS: The application for The Health Foundation’s 2024 Allied Health Professions Scholarship will be available March 11th through July 3rd, 2024. You may apply online here; if you have never applied for a Foundation scholarship before, you will need to create a new account.
RENEWALS: If you received a scholarship last year and would like to renew your award, have your most current official, academic transcript sent to PO Box 667, N Wilkesboro, NC 28659 by July 3rd. You must be in the same program for which you received the original award and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Congratulations to our 2023 winners!
We are so proud to contribute to their education, and we know what valuable additions they’ll be to our medical community here in Wilkes County!
Each student received a $2,000 scholarship to help with the costs of obtaining their education, and if they remain in their program of study and maintain their GPA, they may qualify to receive a renewal next year.
The Health Foundation was proud to provide an Allied Health Professions Scholarship to Ivy Bledsoe, Katelin Brown, Madison Carter, Alani Helms, Taylor Stamper, Ethan Thornburg, Tara Wicker, Tristen Blevins, Cameron Evans, Josiah Sparks, Britney Nichols, Grant Bare, Kaitlyn Wright, Caroline Watkins, and Heather Wolfe.
The following students received awards from the Foundation’s named scholarship funds:
- Olivia Ballinger, The Ben Abernethy Scholarship
- Trinidad Alberto, The Betty and Robert Andrews Scholarship
- Ivy Lima-Pennell, The Betty Winslow Scholarship
- Patricia Ruggiero, The Dr. Frederick C. Hubbard Scholarship
- Tanya Blankenship, The Dr. Ray Inscore Nursing Scholarship
- Heather Church, The R.L. and Doris Melton Family Scholarship
- Jenna Boles, The Shirley and Alvin A. Sturdivant, Jr. Scholarship
Thanks to our Scholarship Committee for their hard work!
Named Scholarships
The Ben Abernethy Scholarship was created by students at the college who wished to pay their respects to long-time nursing instructor Laura Abernethy, Mr. Abernethy’s widow.
The Betty and Robert Andrews Memorial Scholarship was established by Susan Taylor Bachmeier for outstanding African-American, Hispanic, Asian, or indigenous students, in recognition that equitable access to health care careers is important to establishing a diverse workforce representative of the community. Priority will be given to nursing students over other health care professions.
The Dr. Frederick C. Hubbard Scholarship, created by the Wilkes Medical Center Auxiliary in 1958, has a new home with The Health Foundation in 2022. Dr. Hubbard began his medical career at a time when few hospitals existed in North Carolina and diligently served the people of Wilkes County. This scholarship is for nursing students.
The Dr. Ray Inscore Nursing Scholarship is also dedicated to nursing students who plan to work in Wilkes. Dr. Inscore was devoted to his patients and to the medical profession, and his family established this scholarship to commemorate and continue his work.
The R.L. and Doris Melton Family Scholarship is dedicated to Wilkes County residents in the field of nursing who plan to work in Wilkes upon achieving their degree.
The Shirley and Alvin A. Sturdivant, Jr. Scholarship was established by the Sturdivant family for exceptional students in the allied health care fields. Mrs. Sturdivant was herself a nurse and Mr. Sturdivant was a Navy Corpsman.
The Betty Winslow Scholarship is dedicated to students in the Radiology Technology program. The fund was established to honor Mrs. Winslow, who retired as Program Director of the School of Radiologic Technology after serving for 35 years as director.
The Health Foundation’s scholarship program is funded both through gifts that come from within our generous community as well as through the endowed earnings of named scholarships.
If you would like to make a secure, online donation to the scholarship program, click here!
Alvin A. Sturdivant, Jr., Founder and First President of The Health Foundation.