2009

1 February, 2009

Contact: Elizabeth A. Winter, Phone: (330)334-28282, Email: bethw@wrhhs.org

Wadsworth, Ohio, February 1, 2009 - In its effort to encourage and support students whose goal is to work in nursing or other clinical health care field, Summa Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital will present up to six scholarships of up to $1,000 each in 2009. Two of the scholarships are the Evangeline Witzeman Scholarships for nursing students. Four scholarships are for students in allied health fields. For purposes of this scholarship, allied health is defined as clinical health care fields requiring at least two years of post-secondary education which culminates in a degree, state licensure or certification. It includes, but is not limited to, such career fields as pharmacy, respiratory care, nuclear medicine, physical therapy and laboratory medical technologist.

To be eligible to apply for these scholarships, one must:

• Be a resident in the Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital service area which includes Copley, Creston, Doylestown, Marshallville, Norton, Rittman, Seville, Sharon Center, Smithville, Spencer, Sterling, Wadsworth and Westfield Center or an employee of Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital,
• Be officially accepted into an accredited nursing or allied health program,
• Able to show scholastic ability to maintain satisfactory progress towards completion of the program.

Eligible students may request an application from Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital’s Marketing Communication department. A complete application will consist of:

• A completed scholarship application form,
• A current letter of acceptance or good standing at an accredited school including an official estimate from the school or university of the tuition and book costs for the next school year,
• A grade transcript from the most recent school term completed,
• A one-page narrative describing the applicant’s career goals and why he/she chose a career in the particular field,
• Three letters of recommendation (one letter must be from a teacher, one must be from an employer or other supervisor or party familiar with the applicant’s work and one must be from any non-relative of the applicant’s choosing).

Applications are available beginning February 1st. The deadline to submit completed applications is Friday, June 12, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. For information about the eligibility requirements or to receive an application packet, call Marketing Communication at 330-334-2976 or 1-800-828-1789, x2976. All scholarships are subject to availability of funds to be determined in the absolute discretion of the Board of Directors.

About Summa Health System

Summa Health System is one of the largest integrated delivery systems in Ohio. Encompassing a network of hospitals, community health centers, a health plan, a physician-hospital organization, a multi-specialty physician organization, research and multiple foundations, Summa is nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery. Summa's clinical services are consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report, Thomson Reuters and The Leapfrog Group. Summa also is a founding partner of the BioInnovation Institute in Akron. For more information, visit www.summahealth.org.