The scholarship committee for the Auxiliary of Lehigh Regional Medical Center held a special ceremony to present five medical scholarships to local students.
According to Laurie Overhoff, the director of the scholarship committee each of the scholarship winners wants to pursue a degree in the medical field.
This year, Chairman Overhoff said the Auxiliary was able to hand out $2,500 in scholarships to what she called five deserving students who will make Lehigh proud.
Those who received $500 scholarships included:
Mackenzie Phelps, her plans are to become a registered nurse. She attends Florida Atlantic University in Boca Ratan, Fla.
Amy McDowell, will be studying bio medical sciences at University of South Florida in Tampa.
Giselle Diaz, who will be studying at Edison State College in Fort Myers to become a registered nurse
Nancy Gecay, who also wants to become a registered nurse and is attending Premiere International Institute in Fort Myers.
Silence Dengler, who is studying radiology at Edison State College in Fort Myers.
All the money that goes for scholarships comes from the profits of the gift shop inside the lobby at Lehigh Regional Medical Center, which is run by the Auxiliary.
The Auxiliary is not part of the hospital, but a partner with the hospital. LRMC gives the space for the gift shop. It’s on the left when you enter the front entrance of LRMC on Lee Blvd.
“We have all types of things; namely fresh flowers every day, gifts for almost any occasion, trinkets, greeting cards and much more,” said Eilf who oversees the gift shop.
According to Eilf, there are around 50 men and women, who are volunteers in the Auxiliary and Eilf said they are always looking for more people who want to give some of their time to help out.
The Auxiliary of Lehigh Regional Medical Center was begun back in the 1970s, it is believed, and has continued to be an active group ever since with the idea to help people pursue a medical career.
Volunteers must be over 18 and they can work more than the 4-hour shift if they so desire.