ST. LUKE’S CORNWALL HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION AWARDS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS

ST. LUKE’S CORNWALL HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION AWARDS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Newburgh, NY -- The St. Luke’s Cornwall Health System Foundation (SLCHSF) awarded six annual scholarships to local, graduating high school seniors entering an accredited university or community college in the fall of 2020. These scholarships were provided in recognition of not only scholastic excellence but also the volunteerism displayed by each recipient. The 2020 scholarship recipients included students from Middletown High School, Washingtonville High School, Valley Central High School, New Paltz High School and the Poughkeepsie Day School.

St. Luke’s Cornwall Auxiliary Scholarships

This year the SLC Auxiliary Scholarships have been awarded to graduating seniors Mya Charles from Middletown High School and Sobia Hosain from the Poughkeepsie Day School.

Mya Charles enrolled in her school’s medical program as a freshman and soon developed a passion for medicine. The program coursework and heart dissections sparked her interest in the human anatomy. Mya then focused her studies primarily on the heart and established her goal to help others and save lives as a cardiovascular surgeon. Mya will be attending the University of Connecticut in the fall.

Sobia Hosain had several experiences throughout high school that motivated her to pursue a career in medicine. During her freshman and sophomore years, Sobia volunteered at a pain management office and interacted with many patients. Prior to her senior year, she completed an internship with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, where she met several physicians and learned about the necessary steps required to bring a drug to market. These experiences showed Sobia the broad range of opportunities that a career in medicine can provide. Sobia will be attending Sienna College in the fall.

“It is an honor to award the St. Luke’s Cornwall Auxiliary Scholarships to these incredibly deserving young women,” said SLC Auxiliary Chairwoman, Margaret “Chip” Pelella. “Their dedication to our community and the volunteer efforts displayed by each recipient truly mirrors the mission and vision of the SLC Auxiliary.”

Albert M. Berkelhamer Memorial Scholarship

The Albert M. Berkelhamer Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Taylor Connington, a graduating senior from Washingtonville High School.

While volunteering at Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall, Taylor Connington gained real world experience in healthcare. She worked in Emergency Department Registration and saw firsthand how kind and understanding the doctors and nurses were with their patients, and how grateful patients were in return. Taylor’s time at Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall ignited her passion to pursue a career in the medical field, specifically nursing.

Taylor will be attending SUNY Binghamton University in the fall.

“On behalf of Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall, we are so proud to award these scholarships to not only the students but to their families as well,” said Joan Cusack-McGuirk, MSLC President and CEO. “We whole-heartedly congratulate each recipient and wish them well on all their future endeavors.”

Gift of Life Scholarship

Lindsey Medina, a graduating senior from Valley Central High School has been awarded the Gift of Life Scholarship.

Lindsey Medina’s passion for nursing was instilled in her at a young age. Her mother, a longtime nurse at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall, provided Lindsey with the knowledge and motivation needed for a career in nursing. During high school, Lindsey’s interest in the medical field was further heightened after she entered the Medachieve program at Touro Medical School in Middletown. Lindsey will be attending Wilkes University in the fall.

Dr. Ernest G. Stillman Memorial Scholarship

Paige Sarvis, a graduating senior from New Paltz High School, has been awarded the Dr. Ernest G. Stillman Memorial Scholarship.

During her junior year in high school, Paige was involved in the Thirst Project, a non-profit organization that employs students who build wells to provide access to clean, safe drinking water in underdeveloped countries. She then started a club in her high school and raised money to help combat the global water crisis. Additionally, Paige worked with New Visions, where she shadowed nurses and doctors in a hospital as they cared for patients. These experiences inspired Paige to become a physician and to one day start her own healthcare-focused non-profit. Paige will be attending West Virginia University in the fall.

“We are so proud to include for the first time the Ernest G. Stillman Memorial Scholarship and Gift of Life Scholarship,” said Anne Marie Schoonhoven, Executive Director, St. Luke’s Cornwall Health System Foundation. “The Foundation is honored to present these scholarships to the outstanding students who earned them with their hard work and dedication to our community.”

Michael L. Pappis, MD Memorial Scholarship

The Michael L. Pappis, MD Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Isabelle Nokland, a graduating senior from Valley Central High School.

At the age of 15, Isabelle Nokland joined her local ambulance corps to connect herself to the community in an exciting way. Through multiple training sessions and countless hours of studying, she quickly earned the position of assistant EMT. Isabelle acquired vast knowledge through emergency response experiences in the field and interaction with medical staff at local hospitals, which ultimately led her to pursue a career in nursing. Isabelle will be attending Roberts Wesleyan College in the fall.

About Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall

Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall (MSLC) is a not-for-profit community hospital with campuses in Newburgh and Cornwall, NY. The hospital is dedicated to serving the health care needs of the Hudson Valley and has achieved excellence in the delivery of compassionate and comprehensive health care services. The Joint Commission noted SLCH for excellence in Key Quality Measures in the management of Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Stroke and Surgical Care. MSLC is also recognized as an industry leader in using information technology to improve patient care, by winning the Most Wired Award for the fourth year in a row. In January 2018, MSLC officially became part of the Montefiore Health System to strengthen the delivery of health care locally and enhance access to exceptional specialty care for Hudson Valley residents. In March 2019 changed its name from St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall.