Through the Allied Health Careers Scholarship program, the Lakeland Health Foundation, Niles provided more than $11,500 in grants and scholarships this year to departments and individuals.

Each scholarship is designed to advance educational opportunities for Lakeland HealthCare professionals and for students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare.

“We are grateful for the generosity of area residents and organizations that have made a significant investment toward advancing healthcare in our region,” said David Burghart, President of the Lakeland Health Foundations. “These gifts are used to honor many individuals who are seeking to advance their own skills and knowledge for their own betterment as well as for Lakeland and for our community.”

Over the past 16 years, the Niles Health Foundation has awarded more than $221,000 in scholarships and grants to individuals and departments. This year, a total of 13 individuals and six departments at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles received scholarships and educational awards.

Among this year’s recipients is Tammy Jerz, Manager of the Niles BirthPlace. Jerz who is pursuing a Master’s degree in Nursing with an emphasis on Leadership/Management at Western Governors University, was awarded the Muriel Huizenga Memorial Allied Health Careers Endowment Fund scholarship.

A department grant also was awarded to the Niles BirthPlace to send two registered nurses to the annual convention of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses in 2012. The funds were made possible through a generous gift from the late Muriel Huizenga, who dedicated 50 years of her life as a hospital volunteer and also served as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors.

In addition, the Foundation presented three scholarships from the College Education Scholarship Fund for Children of Associates. Recipients included: Sierra Delaney, daughter of Radiologic Technologist Holly Delaney; Stephanie Stoops, daughter of Family Care of Niles office manager Beth Stoops; and Rebecca Kastner, daughter of Central Processing Technician Tracy Kastner. Kastner is also the granddaughter of Mike Kastner, Director of Building Services for Lakeland HealthCare. Mike is a past recipient of Lakeland Health Foundations’ Leadership Award.

Several additional scholarships were awarded at the ceremony. All individual recipients and their hometowns are listed below:

Berrien Springs: Sierra Delaney

Dowagiac: Tammy Jerz

Niles: Barbara Burge, Andrew Gibbs, Rebecca Kastner, Amanda Racht, Cathy Smith, Stephanie Stoops, Michele Weathers

South Bend: Amy Chodzinski, Sheri Farlow

Vandalia: Debra Green

White Pigeon: Todd Haney