Two Texas County Memorial Hospital Youth Ambassadors have received scholarships to assist with their academic expenses for the upcoming school year.
Shaniah Phillips, of Houston, was awarded $500 and Alexis Fuwell, of Mountain Grove, received $250. Both girls are 2017 graduates of the high schools in their hometowns.
Phillips and Fuwell are students at Missouri State University-West Plains. Phillips is pursuing a teaching degree and certification. Fuwell is seeking a bachelor’s degree in child and family development.
Phillips has accumulated 106 volunteer hours the past two years through the TCMH Youth Ambassador program. Fuwell has volunteered 54 hours her one year in the program.
A committee of TCMH employees from various hospital departments chose Phillips and Fuwell as the scholarship recipients based on their applications and essays for the scholarships.
Funds came from an endowed scholarship fund administered by the TCMH Healthcare Foundation. The organization set up the fund in 2015 with local community partners and Community Foundation of the Ozarks through the annual “Give Ozarks” day fundraising effort.
Jay Gentry, healthcare foundation director, noted that the foundation is continuing to grow the endowment fund with hopes of giving away two $750 scholarships to Youth Ambassadors each year. The fund sits at $34,647.
“The 2017 fund level only allowed us to give out $750 in scholarship funds, but that is also greatly appreciated by the recipients,” Gentry said,
According to Gentry, the Youth Ambassador endowment will need to reach $40,000 to allow two annual $750 scholarships. He said in 2018, the fund levels should allow one $750 and one $500 scholarship.
TCMH Youth Ambassadors are area high school juniors or seniors as well as college students who chosen for the program each fall. Youth Ambassadors are required to volunteer a minimum of four hours each month to remain active in the program. As volunteers, the students do a variety of services in the hospital and in patient care areas.
“These scholarships are a great way to reward students that have been faithful volunteers at their local hospital,” said Wes Murray, TCMH chief executive officer. “Shaniah and Alexis are very deserving of this honor, and we wish them the best as they pursue a college education.”
Additional information about the Youth Ambassador volunteer program or the foundation can be found at www.tcmh.org.