By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
June 8, 2004
After Kellie Turner lost everything in the April 2003 floods, she wondered if she would have the money to finish school at Meridian Community College.
Turner was one of four Meridian Community College nursing students to receive scholarships Monday at a ceremony sponsored by Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
She said she decided to go into nursing after she was in the hospital and a nurse was nice to her.
Turner received the Dr. Jefferson F. Hollingsworth Scholarship, which is named for the grandson of Dr. William J. Anderson, founder of the hospital.
This marks the 17th year Jeff Anderson has given scholarships for those pursuing a career in nursing. Each scholarship was for $2,500 and will cover all costs for the students' last year of community college.
Keith Dickerson received the prestigious Dr. William J. Anderson Scholarship. Dickerson currently has a perfect grade point average, and he said he could not have been successful without the help of God, his family and his fellow students.
The William J. Gunn Esquire Scholarship was awarded to Patsy Smith, who said she became interested in nursing when her father was diagnosed with Leukemia.
Gunn was a member of the hospital's board of directors from 1967-2001, and served as general counsel for the hospital.
Shea Cessna was awarded the Dr. W.J. Anderson III scholarship, named after the son of the hospital's founder. She said she was inspired to be a nurse when her grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Linda Todd, vice president of nursing at Jeff Anderson, said the scholarship recipients were chosen based on grades, nursing excellence, work history and an essay expressing why each candidate chose nursing as a career.
Jan Farrington, a member of the board of directors for Jeff Anderson Hospital, said she was glad that the hospital continues to follow through with its commitment to nursing education.