Sentara Healthcare recently presented College of The Albemarle’s (COA) Foundation with $100,000 for Sentara Scholars. Sentara is investing more than $3 million in Sentara Scholars to provide financial assistance to eligible students pursuing degrees or certifications in healthcare-related fields. Scholarships will be awarded throughout North Carolina and Virginia.
Sentara Healthcare has established an employment pipeline with COA and 19 other educational partners to provide job opportunities for graduates of the college’s healthcare programs. This partnership aims to address the shortage of healthcare workers in the region and provide students with a clear path to employment after graduation. The funds given to COA for scholarships further strengthen Sentara’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to the communities they serve.
College of The Albemarle provides highly qualified, skillful healthcare workers throughout our service area and beyond. “The support these funds will provide for our health science students is extremely important to help them be successful,” said Robin Harris, Dean of Health Sciences and Wellness Programs. “Financial need and working too many hours outside of classes often impact students’ time and energy to dedicate to their rigorous studies and preparation for clinical learning experiences. Unexpected life events and the stress associated with them can also impact their ability to focus on their studies. This wonderful gift will help us give support, providing students in need the best opportunity to learn and become the highly skilled health practitioners needed for our communities.”
Sentara Scholars Check Presentation – Sentara representatives Sherwin Stewart, Interim President; Glen Needham, Director, Surgical Services; Alex Askew, Community Engagement Consultant; and Wendy Pierce, Manager of Community Benefit and Grants, present the check to COA President Dr. Jack Bagwell and Dr. Catherine DeHart, COA Foundation Executive Director. Faculty, staff and students from COA, along with Sentara staff were also present for the presentation.
The scholarship funds are designated for direct tuition assistance, with up to twenty percent available for emergency use. Eligibility considerations include but are not limited to students who must be in-state residents enrolled in a healthcare or healthcare-related undergraduate or professional degree or certificate program.
“College of The Albemarle is extremely appreciative of these scholarship funds that will support so many seeking a degree, diploma, or certification in a healthcare-related field,” said COA President Dr. Jack Bagwell. “We are committed to helping students realize their dreams, providing them with better skills, leading to better jobs. Partnerships with employers such as Sentara Healthcare ensures educational and workforce opportunities are available for everyone, making our communities economically stronger and great places to live.”
For information, please contact Tammy W. Sawyer, COA Director of Communications and Marketing, at [email protected] or 252.335.0821 ext. 2420.
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About Sentara
Sentara Healthcare, an integrated, not-for-profit health care delivery system, celebrates more than 130 years in pursuit of its mission – “we improve health every day.” Sentara is one of the largest health systems in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, and among the top 20 largest not-for-profit integrated health systems in the country, with 30,000 employees, 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, and the Sentara Health Plans division which serves more than 1.2 million members in Virginia and Florida. Sentara is recognized nationally for clinical quality and safety, and is strategically focused on innovation and creating an extraordinary health care experience for our patients and members. Sentara was named to IBM Watson Health’s “Top 15 Health Systems” (2021, 2018), and was recognized by Forbes as a “Best Employer for New Grads” (2022), “Best Employer for Veterans” (2022), and “Best Employer for Women” (2020).