GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT AWARDS $90,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO HEALTHCARE STUDENTS FROM 21 LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS

East County News Service

April 17, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) recently awarded $90,000 in scholarships to 40 high school seniors who have expressed interest in a career as a healthcare professional.

The students from 21 local high schools in the East Region were selected by school administrators for their academic excellence, outstanding citizenship and a desire to serve in the healthcare field. Students from each high school will receive either $1,500 or $3,000 at the end of their first successfully-completed semester of college.

“We applaud these students who have demonstrated great potential in leading the next generation and shaping the future of healthcare,” said Michael Emerson, board president. “It’s important for us to invest in America’s youth and encourage these young adults as they continue their studies in the healthcare field with the goal of serving in the workforce of tomorrow.”

The students include (name of their high school follows the students’ names in parenthesis): Hannah Taggart, Jaelyn Henige (Christian); Tatyanna McKee-Cartwright (Diego Valley Charter); Destiny James (Innovation High); Sarah Ali, Sarah Yaqoob (El Cajon Valley); Kamrie Toney, Marwa Mohammad Azim (El Capitan); Malia Nowlen, Kendra Patterson (Foothills Christian); Brooke Johnson, Haley Willhelm (Granite Hills); Merna Nissan, Joseph Williams (Grossmont); Brianna Robbins, Theresa Slaiwa (Grossmont Middle College); Faith Mendoza, Omar Yusuf (Helix Charter); Kate Hummel, Michael Estrada (IDEA Center High); Symeon Elkins, Rita Al Ankawy (Liberty Charter); Ariana Mae Gaeta, Lauren Lee Simpson-Long (Monte Vista); Roseline Annang, Sabrina Martinez (Mount Miguel); Luisa Tamez, Audrey Bennett (Mountain Empire); Chanel Sosa-Pineda, Abril Sosa-Pineda (Patrick Henry); Zoe Dickinson, Dakota Hacker (River Valley Charter); Taha Alani, Joshua Long (Santana); Virginia Roberson, Sebastian Castillo (Steele Canyon Charter); Carly Swavely, Mary Anthony (Valhalla); Sabrina Major, Lauren Lines (West Hills).

GHD has honored local high school students interested in a healthcare career with scholarship grants since 1999. Over the years, hundreds of local high school students have received individual scholarships totaling more than $1 million.

The Grossmont Healthcare District is a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in the East Region. Formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital, GHD now leases operations to Sharp HealthCare via a public-private partnership, and continues to own the hospital on behalf of local taxpayers. The District is governed by a five-member board of directors, each elected to four-year terms, who represent more than 500,000 people residing within the District's 750 square miles in San Diego's East County. For more information about GHD, visit www.grossmonthealthcare.org.