CaroMont Health Foundation Announces 2024 Scholarship Recipients
Recently, the CaroMont Health Foundation awarded $129,200 in scholarships to area students and healthcare professionals. All recipients are pursuing a career in healthcare or looking to advance their medical training.
The CaroMont Health Foundation awarded the funds through nine scholarships: Lee Bucci Professional Nursing Scholarship, Dr. Marty D’Amore Scholarship, Amanda George Self Emergency Medicine Scholarship, Mr. and Mrs. Joe R. Hudson Nursing Scholarship, Lonnie and Rachel Waggoner Nursing Education Scholarship, Gene and Jo Woody Family Scholarship, George Washington Hall Scholarship, Team CaroMont Scholarship and the Wayne F. Shovelin Scholarship. These scholarships are made possible through contributions from generous donors and CaroMont Health employees.
"Through the CaroMont Health Foundation's scholarship program, we are proud to support these healthcare professionals as they pursue further education and skill enhancement,” said Jay Nutter, Chair of the Scholarships Advisory Board for the CaroMont Health Foundation. “Each has demonstrated a drive to serve others through their commitments to caring and healing. We could not be more proud to support this extraordinary group of professionals.”
The CaroMont Health Foundation seeks to support CaroMont Health in providing compassionate, exceptional and highly reliable care through grants, scholarships and other programs. Financial support awarded to individuals helps create a more targeted approach to tackling the present and persisting healthcare issues facing the region.
The following scholarships were awarded this year:
Lee Bucci Professional Nursing Scholarship
The Bucci Scholarship Fund was established in 2012 in honor of Lee Bucci, retiring Director of Gaston Hospice. This scholarship is awarded to a student seeking an accredited degree in the field of nursing (LPN, RN or BSN), with special consideration given to the field of palliative care.
The Lee Bucci Professional Nursing Scholarship was awarded to Kaeli Denham.
Marty D’Amore Scholarship
The Marty D’Amore Scholarship Fund was established in 2015 following the death of Dr. D’Amore after a long battle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). The fund was created and supported by donations from physicians and the medical community. Awards from this scholarship are given to students accepted or enrolled in an accredited Radiology Sciences program.
The Marty D’Amore Scholarship was awarded to McKenna Robinson.
Amanda George Self Emergency Medicine Scholarship
The Amanda George Self Emergency Medicine Scholarship Fund was created in 2018 in memory of Amanda Self to recognize her fifteen years of service with CaroMont Regional Medical Center. Initial funds for this scholarship were provided by her colleagues and friends in celebration of her enthusiasm for education and support of her peers. Annual support is received from colleagues and friends and employee giving through the Team CaroMont campaign. Awards from this scholarship are given to students pursuing education in emergency medicine.
The Amanda George Self Emergency Medicine Scholarship was awarded to Jacob Eckard and Stephanie Estevez.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe R. Hudson Nursing Scholarship
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hudson established the Hudson Scholarship in 1974 to support students and help staff the new Gaston Memorial Hospital. Awards from this scholarship program are given based on organizational needs, scholastics and acceptance into nursing professions for area students. Recipients must sign a promissory note that they intend to become or remain an employee of CaroMont Health after completing their studies.
The Mr. and Mrs. Joe R. Hudson Nursing Scholarships were awarded to Ashley Chidester, Stephanie Estevez, Kristin Wall and Nicole Mullinax.
Team CaroMont Scholarship
The Team CaroMont Scholarship was established in 2015 and funded by employee contributions to the Team CaroMont campaign. 100% of donations given to the Team CaroMont Scholarships Fund directly supports educational opportunities for CaroMont Health employees pursuing an education in health-related programs and select non-degree programs.
The Team CaroMont Scholarships were awarded to Kimberly Burke, Maelyn Cranford, Johanna Gutierrez, Nicole Mullinax and Harley Tanner.
The Lonnie and Rachel Waggoner Nursing Education Scholarship
The Lonnie and Rachel Waggoner Nursing Education Scholarship is a permanent endowment established in 2005. Awards from this scholarship are given to students seeking an accredited degree in the field of nursing (LPN, RN or BSN).
The Lonnie and Rachel Waggoner Nursing Education Scholarships were awarded to Tera Amanda Johnson, Nicole Mitchell, Henrry Novoa and Michaela Robinson.
Gene and Jo Woody Family Scholarship
Established by the Woody family in 2023, the Gene and Jo Woody Family Scholarship was created to memorialize the legacy of Dr. and Mrs. Woody, who had longstanding careers and dedication to volunteerism in healthcare fields. The couple served in the US Navy before moving to Gastonia in 1945, where Dr. Woody started his dental practice and Mrs. Woody, a registered nurse, volunteered for the Red Cross Bloodmobile. This scholarship supports students pursuing an education in a healthcare-related field who exemplify what Dr. and Mrs. Woody stood for.
The Gene and Jo Woody Family Scholarship was awarded to Kiara Gonzalez.
George Washington Hall Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 2023 to pay tribute to Mr. George Washington Hall, a long-time resident of Courtland Terrace, CaroMont Health's rehabilitation center. Courtland Terrace is dedicated to serving patients and residents in need of long-term and short-term rehabilitation, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care services. This scholarship assists current Courtland Terrace employees as they further their education in healthcare.
The George Washington Hall Scholarship was awarded to Kimberly Burke.
Wayne F. Shovelin Scholarship
The Wayne F. Shovelin Scholarship was established in 2009 by the Duke Kimbrell Family in honor of Wayne Shovelin’s many contributions to CaroMont Health, including his 23 years as President and CEO. This annual scholarship is awarded to a high school senior who has excelled academically, demonstrates strong leadership and community involvement, and plans to major in a health-related field. The award includes up to $20,000 annually over four years of academic work and summer internship opportunities at CaroMont Health.
Aissatou Diouf is the 2024 recipient of the Wayne F. Shovelin Scholarship. She joins Liana Mattera (2023), Evan Friday (2022) and Sophi Jolley (2021) as current recipients of this award.
The CaroMont Health Auxiliary Gertrude Clinton Health Career Scholarship Fund
The scholarship was established by the Gaston Memorial Hospital Auxiliary in 1971. Mrs. Gertrude Clinton served as Gaston County Social Services Director, Personnel Director for CaroMont Health, and was a founding member and President of the CaroMont Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. Following Mrs. Clinton’s death, the scholarship fund was renamed in her memory.
The CaroMont Health Auxiliary Gertrude Clinton Health Career Scholarships were awarded to Kimberly Burke, Harley Tanner, Ashley Chidester, Madison Joyner, Mallory Gosnell, Katelyn Hoersch, Macarthy Monteith, Kiara Gonzalez, Caroline Allred, Keyannah Glover, Jennifer Kramer, Priya Patel, Michaela Robinson, Lauren Fox, Kaeli Denham, Keren Robleda, Emily Toth, Madeline Clements and Jacob Eckard.
Learn more about the CaroMont Health Foundation here.