JCHC Nursing Scholarship Winner

October 16, 2017

Kali Watson, an employee of Jefferson County Health Center who is studying to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Kaplan University has been awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF), which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). She is among 34 outstanding students from all over Iowa who have received assistance this year from the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program. “We are very proud of her,” noted Deb Cardin when presenting Kali with her check at the Board of Trustees meeting on May 19, 2014.

Iowa hospitals established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program in 2004 to help address the ongoing shortage of health care professionals and encourage young Iowans to remain in the state as they establish their careers. 

The first scholarships were awarded in 2005, and now 301 students have benefited from the program. Including these latest awards, the scholarship program has provided more than $900,000 in direct support to students since its inception.

In exchange for that financial support, scholarship-receiving students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award.  In this way, the scholarship program helps stabilize and enhance Iowa’s hospital workforce. 

When Kali received her $3,000 check from CEO Deb Cardin she said, “I love working for JCHC. The environment, the atmosphere and all the great people here make this a wonderful place to work. I am very honored to have received this scholarship.”

Hospital leaders from all parts of the state evaluated scholarship applications from more than 100 qualified students who were judged on grade-point average, a written personal statement, letters of reference, and extracurricular, community and health care-related activities.

“We are very proud to support these high-achieving students who will help Iowa hospitals continue their tradition of providing quality health care throughout the state,” said IHA President and CEO, Kirk Norris.