Baystate Wing Hospital Auxiliary Presents Scholarships to Area Students

PALMER — Six area students have received an increase in their college fund, courtesy of the Baystate Wing Hospital Auxiliary. The hospital’s volunteer group recently presented $6,000 in scholarships to area high-school students pursuing careers in healthcare.

Each year, the scholarships are financed by the work and fund-raising efforts of the hospital’s auxiliary members. These activities include vendor fairs, bake sales, lotto calendar sales, and gift-shop proceeds. The auxiliary provides scholarships each year to graduating high-school seniors in Belchertown, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, and Wilbraham who are pursuing higher education in a healthcare field.

A committee reviews the applications of area students in April of each year to make selections of students who will each receive a $1,000 scholarship. The 2016 scholarship award recipients include Angela Grabazs from Belchertown High School, Krystal White from Ludlow High School, Jack Dumala from Minnechaug High School, Kelsey Martin from Monson High School, Mackenzie Laisure from Pathfinder High School, and Kaitlin Young from Palmer High School.
The students were chosen based on their academic excellence, volunteer efforts and related community service, work experience, and dedication to their goals.

“We are extremely thankful to our auxiliary members for their continued dedication to our hospital and our communities,” said Teresa Grove, president of the Auxiliary and philanthropy officer for Baystate Health’s Eastern Region. “These scholarships are an investment in our area youth and will help to build a healthcare workforce for the future.”

For over 65 years, the auxiliary has been actively supporting Baystate Wing Hospital through their sponsorship of special events and management of the gift shop. This diverse group of women and men include teachers, nurses, business owners, and retirees, who live in many different communities and are united by a shared commitment to support the mission of the hospital.

For more information about or an application to become a member of the Baystate Wing Hospital Auxiliary, stop in or call the Gift Shop at (413) 284-5244 or call Jacqueline Mitchell, auxiliary treasurer, at (413) 245-1156.