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 $4,500 in scholarships to area high-school students pursuing careers in healthcare.

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

Recipients of $750 scholarships in 2018 include Samantha Birks from Belchertown High School, Brooke Chisholm from Ludlow High School, Jessica Anderson from Minnechaug High School, Cienna Moriarty from Monson High School, Lilly Wlodyka from Pathfinder High School, and Kyle Mastalerz 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, vice 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. Additionally the auxiliary has pledged to raise $200,000 for the Baystate Wing Emergency Department capital campaign.”