MEDIA RELEASE

The Kona Community Hospital Auxiliary recently awarded five nursing scholarships to local students seeking to pursue nursing careers.

This year, the Kona Community Hospital Auxiliary awarded four of the scholarships, and an anonymous donor awarded the fifth.

The Kona Community Hospital Auxiliary nursing scholarship program annually awards up to $2,500 per recipient to five nursing students. This year’s scholarship recipients included Jessica Johnson, Russell Nishihara, Charilou Presiados, Kui Len Rocha and Michael Warnecke.

To be considered for the Auxiliary’s Nursing Scholarship, applicants must submit a resume, school transcripts, two letters of recommendation and a personal essay on why nursing was chosen as a career. In addition, students must already be accepted to a nursing school.

The Auxiliary’s goal is to provide financial assistance to nursing students, and to aide Kona Community Hospital in meeting its future nursing needs.

“The Kona Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship is a great opportunity to promote nursing education in West Hawaii. By awarding these scholarships to deserving students, the Auxiliary is helping to build our future nursing workforce here at KCH and ensuring that we are able to continue to provide excellent healthcare to our West Hawaii Community,” said Rich Mears RN, director of education at Kona Community Hospital.

With 65 active members, the KCH Auxiliary is the largest volunteer organization at the hospital. There are numerous volunteer opportunities and they operate the hospital Gift Shop. Monies for nursing scholarships are generated by the Auxiliary’s Friday Bake Sale and other activities.

To be a volunteer or to donate to the nursing scholarship fund, contact the Auxiliary office at 322-4577 or visit: http://kchauxiliary.org