Healthcare scholarships awarded to 17 local students by North Country Hospital

NEWPORT — Around the days of local high school graduations and awards nights, come annual scholarships to deserving high school seniors.

This year, 17 North Country Hospital healthcare scholarships were awarded at North Country and Lake Region Union High Schools, totaling $17,000.

In addition, the hospital foundation renews the $1,000 scholarships for consecutive years providing students stay in healthcare education and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Each year the scholarship review committee makes selections based on student essays, transcripts, extra-curricular activities, as well as financial need.

Applicants must also live in the hospital’s service area in order to initially apply.

The Healthcare Career Scholarship is made possible by the annual North Country Hospital Scholarship Golf Classic, with proceeds each year going directly to students studying in a healthcare field.

The 34th annual scramble is set for Sunday, August 28, at Orleans Country Club.

The review committee selected 10 awardees from this fund, and they went to Lake Region graduate Averi Morse and North Country graduates Bria Austin, Natasha Bowen, Clarissa Demers, Brianna Deslandes, Ava George, Samuel Gonyaw, Bailee Guyette, Cecilia Marquis, and Emma Perkins-Chatterton.

The Caryl B. Custer Scholarship for Nursing Students award went to three students at North Country Union High School – Taylor Gilson, Riley Perry, and Kaylie Wheeler. This fund was created by summer resident Dr. Keith Custer in memory of and on behalf of his wife Caryl, who was a nurse manager in Florida for many years. She individually supported many nursing students during her career there.

This year The Legends Scholarship also went to three students, Alexia Booth and Michaela Sheltra, North Country graduates, and Makenzie Smith, a Lake Region graduate.

This fund was created in 2010 and has since named seven “Legends” of North Country Hospital: William Peck, MD, Larry Labor, Merrilyn Barry, Robert Trembley, MD, Thomas A.E. Moseley, MD, A. David Alsobrook, MD, and Cecile Gelineau, RN.

Another hospital Legend is to be named this summer.

In 2015 the Sidney A. Toll Scholarship Fund was created, honoring long-time previous CEO and founder of North Country Hospital’s scholarship golf tournament.

This year’s recipient is Nicole LaFratta, a Lake Region graduate.

Contributions to North Country Hospital for any of the scholarship funds help sustain these awards for years to come.

Students can receive awards for 2-year, 4-year as well as graduate programs.

Call the Communications/Foundation office 802-334-4186 for more information.