St. Catherine Hospital Awards $25,000 in Scholarships to 23 Healthcare Students

St. Catherine Hospital Awards $25,000 in Scholarships to 23 Healthcare Students

Twenty-two healthcare career students became recipients of the St. Catherine Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Award Program for the 2017-18 academic school year.

Scholarships totaling $23,000 were distributed to the students in an afternoon reception recently in the hospital’s Professional Office Building, 4320 Fir St., East Chicago. Twenty-one students each received $1,000 scholarships. Matthew Solis was the recipient of the $2,000 Maryann Chevigny Scholarship Award, named for a former president of the Auxiliary.

In addition to those scholarships, Kelly Besaw, RN, BSN, Nurse Manager of 5West and Acute Rehabilitation at St. Catherine Hospital, received a $2,000 Jo Ann Birdzell Scholarship Award.

The Jo Ann Birdzell Scholarship Fund was established by St. Catherine Hospital Board of Directors at a June 23, 2016 retirement celebration to honor Birdzell for 20 years of dedicated service. Her retirement took effect in February 2017, as Leo Correa assumed the role of chief executive officer of St. Catherine Hospital. Besaw’s selection by the scholarship is fitting, Birdzell said. “She has long been at the forefront of work to make sure the poor and underserved get good, quality healthcare.”

Correa thanked the students for their commitment to a career in the healthcare industry. “Your dedication to serve the mind, body and spirit of our diverse population is greatly needed and a choice that will reap great rewards,” he said.

Scholarship funds are generated through Auxiliary Gift Shop sales, Wings of Healing program, special events and contribution. Qualifying students reside within East Chicago, Hammond and Whiting/Robertsdale. They can be descendants of Auxiliary members, St. Catherine Hospital or Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana employees based at St. Catherine Hospital.

The $1,000 scholarship recipients were: Ashley Biro, Alexandra Danielides, Alexis Ford, Alyssa Formyduval, Guadalupe Garcia, Brahlyn Ivery,Victoria Keilman, Ashley Kubacki, Cassie Layne, Liliana Mendez, Karen Montoya, Julia Moroz, Erin Mullaney, Carlie Petrus, Edward Piaseczny, Ghenella Salanio, Fareesa Siddiqui, Michael Sinchar, III, Cristina Torres, Isabel Vazquez and Gabriella Zwoll.

To learn more about St. Catherine Hospital activities, visit: https://www.comhs.org/about-us/st-catherine-hospital/community-involvement/volunteers