OLDS — The Olds Health Care Fundraising Committee (OHCFC) has presented scholarships for five local students studying for careers in the health care field.
The scholarships, worth $1,000 each, were presented to Noah Worth, Jaxon Wilson and Genevieve Chapman during a brunch organized by the OHCFC, held earlier in October at the Evergreen Centre.
Two students – Claire Andrew and Nadine Jorgenson – were unable to attend. Their dads accepted them on their behalf.
OHCFC chair Barry McCurdy presented the scholarships.
McCurdy said this marks the second year for the scholarship program, which was expanded from three to five students. He said the committee hopes to expand it to seven to 10 recipients next year.
Previously, the program was available to just to École Olds High School (ÉOHS ) students or grads, but this year students from Olds Koinonia Christian School and Bowden Grandview School were eligible as well.
“It's so nice to see the family show up, and it's so nice to see how much it means to these youth to receive that from us and actually from the community,” McCurdy said.
McCurdy said Worth and Wilson are pursuing the Emergency Medical Responder program at the Alberta Health and Safety Institute.
Chapman, a Bowden Grandview School grad, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Red Deer Polytechnic.
Jorgenson, who also attended ÉOHS, is in her first year of a two-year program in Three Hills to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN).
Andrew, another ÉOHS grad, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in nursing, also at Red Deer Polytechnic.
McCurdy extended his congratulations, noting all five youth are in a very exciting stage in their lives and he expressed hope that once their training is completed, they come back and live and work in Olds and area.
“With their scholarship, they're actually expected to write an essay, handwritten, and it's just unbelievable what's written, why they decided to come into health care,” McCurdy said.
“And they're all different. Every one of the essays is different, and sometimes you can barely not shed a tear for what you hear. It's just amazing,” he added.
“To be able to help them in just a small way is what we're here for.”
Fire Chief Justin Andrew spoke on behalf of his daughter, Claire.
“She wanted to express her gratitude to the Health Care Fundraising Committee, all the volunteers and the sponsors or donors that have made this happen for various opportunities in our region,” Andrew said.
“She's excited about the potential of her career in the health care field.
“She's following a long line of health care practitioners, with both grandmothers being nurses, and a whole line of pharmacists and doctors and paramedics (Justin Andrew is a paramedic himself).”
Andrew said he’s really enjoying the fact that he’s able to pass on some of his knowledge and explain aspects of the field to Claire at night on FaceTime.
