Scholarships Help Munson's Health Care Team Grow

If you’ve ever considered pursuing a career in health care, there is no better time than now. Health care is Michigan’s largest industry in terms of employment and the demand of qualified professionals is escalating in many fields.

The Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation helps area residents interested in health care careers reach their goals. This year, 45 individuals preparing for clinical careers or pursuing advanced education have been awarded scholarships totaling $41,500. The majority of those funds come from the Sladek Scholarship Fund for Nursing, established in 1997 to assist in educating health care workers.

In addition to the Sladek Fund, two new nursing scholarship funds have been established:

• The Eleanor Weaver Porter Nursing Scholarship Fund is supported by Eleanor’s family and friends, in memory of her dedication and love of nursing. Eleanor graduated in 1940 from the Butterworth School of Nursing in Grand Rapids. She spent 40 years providing loving nursing care. Stipulations for the scholarship include that the student’s course of study meets an identified need at Munson, and also that the recipient help others complete their education, should they ever be in a financial position to do so.

• The Carolyn Wolf Nursing Scholarship Fund is supported by co-workers and friends of Carolyn Wolf. Carolyn worked as an LPN in the Medical Procedures Room at Munson for many years. She was known for her humor and selfless caring. Both nursing and medical staffs respected and valued her contributions. Carolyn died in April 2001 and a memorial fund was created in her honor. That fund will be used to provide six $500 scholarships to LPNs working at Munson.

Sean Kelly, 33, is the first recipient of the Carolyn Wolf Scholarship. Sean works as an LPN on West 4 with cancer patients, in addition to pursuing his associate’s degree at Northwestern Michigan College.

“This scholarship is extremely helpful to me,” Sean said. “I have two young children, I work full-time, and I go to school full-time. I have been working four shifts a week and I thought I might have to start working five shifts. With this scholarship, I can stick to four, so I’ll get to see my children a little more.”

Sean enjoys being a nurse because he’s “a people person” and he likes making a contribution to the community’s well being. “There is a lot of reward and satisfaction in helping people through some of the hardest times in their lives.”