HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – Within the state of Virginia, and across the United States, there is a significant shortage of nurses, and to do its part in boosting numbers, Virginia Retirement Community launched a scholarship for area students.
Joe Hackman, the Chief Philanthropy Officer at VMRC, said the Mary Reitz Nursing Scholarship was started as a way to ‘build a pipeline of future nurses to serve the VMRC but also as a way to benefit the local community.’
Three recipients were awarded this scholarship, and each will receive up to $30,000 towards their future nursing education.
The recipients include two current VMRC employees, Daniela Montero Ruiz and Kashif Polous-Masih, and a high school graduate from Harrisonburg, Faith Sisler.
VMRC said the recipients were selected out of a competitive pool of candidates.
“I see the scholarship recipients and I am just like, compared to them, what have I done. And I feel very grateful to be next to them,” recipient Daniela Ruiz.
Ruiz is a CNA and has worked at VMRC for almost three years. She said that with this scholarship, she hopes to grow in her role as a care provider.
“I plan to go to nursing school and also take care of my family Anything that I can do, I will do,” she said.
Kashif Polous-Masih said that he appreciates the staff at VMRC and the opportunity to apply for the scholarship. He plans to go into Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) training.
As these are the first recipients for the scholarship, the VMRC staff hopes to continue to help the future of nursing.
“Scholarships like these give people a head start in being able to pursue their nursing education and their dreams. that is what we are most excited about is to see these three young people have a clear purpose and vision for what they want to do with their lives and what they want to do with the nursing profession,” said Hackman.
For more information on the scholarship, you can visit the VMRC website
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