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Contact Us >Annual scholarships give $11,500 to college-bound grads
Current, and possibly future, medical professionals gathered inside South County Hospital’s Potter Conference Center where 21 recent high school graduates were awarded scholarships toward their undergraduate studies. For the past 30 years, South County Health’s Conrad Nestor Scholarship and Medical Staff Scholarship have been helping area students pursue their passions.
The Conrad Nestor Scholarship is awarded to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. To begin the process, guidance counselors from high schools in Washington County are asked to nominate two students for consideration.
The Medical Staff Scholarship is open to South County Health employees and their family members who plan to further their education in any field.
The scholarship committee reviews each student’s application that includes academic experience, extracurricular and civic involvement, a personal essay on why he or she should receive the award, as well as a face-to-face interview with each of the candidates.
Eleni Pappas, DPM, is a member of the South County Health medical staff and has been on the scholarship committee since its inception.
“Throughout the decades we have given scholarships to students who are now physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, nurses, medical technology researchers, dentists, and sports medicine trainers. This year we have our first possible future medical geneticist,” Dr. Pappas said.
For Dr. Pappas, the scholarship program is a great way for the physicians to connect with the community and get to know some of the current students who could become future colleagues.
“Besides reading through the students’ applications, we (the committee) spend an evening meeting the students and learning about their future passions. It is heartwarming to hear their stories and learn about their educational pursuits,” she said. “We hope this shared experience with our staff will help inspire these wonderful future professionals and health care providers and maybe bring them back to our community at South County Health.”
Four of this year’s scholarship recipients also volunteered at South County Hospital, during their senior year in high school - Steven Costantino (MIS), Sierra Rowley (patient escort), Kathryn Sullivan (patient escort), and Neelam Ahmed (patient escort).
Both scholarships are funded by membership dues collected from South County Health’s medical staff.
South County Health’s Medical Staff Scholarship awarded a total of $8,200 to 10 local high school graduates who planned to pursue undergraduate studies toward a career in the medical field. Four of the recipients received $1300 each and 6 received $500 each.
Each of the 11 high school graduates who are members of South County Health employees received $300 from the Conrad-Nestor Scholarship to further their education.
Conrad-Nestor Scholarship
| Name | Town | High School | College | Major |
| Rachel Clancy | West Kingston | So. Kingstown | URI | Marketing |
| Steven Costantino | Warwick | Bish Hend | Sacred Heart Univ | IS/Cybersecurity |
| Caitlin Fogerty | W. Greenwich | SMA–Bay View | Providence College | Accounting |
| Nicholas Graichen | Charlestown | Chariho | Johnson & Wales | Computerized Drafting |
| James Mason | Providence | Bish Hend | Plymouth State Univ. | Criminal Justice or Exercise Science |
| Sierra Rowley | Wakefield | So. Kingstown | Brown | Applied Mathematics |
| Ellie Sullivan | Wakefield | So. Kingstown | URI | Engineering |
| Kathryn Sullivan | Narragansett | Narr. HS | Cabrini Univ. | Chemistry |
| Sean Tally | Narragansett | Prout | URI | PoliSci - Pre Law |
| Rachael Tovar | Cranston | PCD | Wheaton College | Physics |
| Kallan Trombino | Westerly | Westerly HS | Loyola Univ. | Finance |
Medical Staff Scholarship
| Name | Town | HS | College | Major |
| Neelam Ahmed | Wakefield | So. Kingstown | URI | Pre-med |
| Olivia Clarke | Jamestown | No. Kingstown | RIC | Nursing |
| Tucker Curtis | Charlestown | Chariho | St. Michael's | Biochemistry/Pre-med |
| Brooke Hopper | W. Greenwich | EWG | Univ. of Tampa | Biology/Pre-med |
| Sara Iacovelli | Jamestown | No. Kingstown | Sacred Heart Univ. | Physical Therapy |
| Alexandra Lanna | E. Greenwich | Prout | RIC | Pre-med |
| Jaqueline Lindstrom | Wakefield | So. Kingstown | Pacific Lutheran Univ. | Pre-med |
| Kristen Parenteau | Narragansett | Narragansett | Univ. of Pittsburg | Pre-med/Medical Genetics |
| Emily Pinch | Wakefield | Prout | Northeastern | Physician Assistant |
| Madison Rittner | Saunderstown | Narragansett | RIC | Nursing |