The Washington Hospital Service League is well known for its many dedicated
volunteers, both adults and students, who work with the Hospital’s
staff to provide care and support to patients, families and visitors.
What may not be as well known is that the Service League also supports
our community by providing scholarships to residents, 22 years of age
or younger, who wish to pursue a career in health care and also live in
the Washington Hospital Township District. The Service League’s
Scholarship Program, which has contributed to the training and education
of many young people in our community, was established in 1961. The first
nursing scholarship of $150 was awarded to a nursing student training
at Highland Hospital.
During the last 60 years, the Service League has awarded a total of $308,335
in scholarships to deserving students. Now, the Service League grants
two $1,000 scholarships annually that are renewable for three additional
years, based on the student’s academic performance and continued
focus on the health care field. A one-time scholarship is also awarded.
This year we were fortunate to be able to award four additional scholarships.
Three of the scholarships were awarded in memory of Louis Dawson and one
scholarship was awarded in memory of Edith Piskel. We are very grateful
for our generous donors who made this possible.
“Our volunteers love working in the Hospital and helping patients
and families, but it is also very meaningful to give assistance and support
to budding doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in our
community,” explains the Service League’s Scholarship Chair
Dian Zarzycki. “Meeting these impressive young people and learning
about their past accomplishments and future hopes and dreams is very inspirational.”
2016 Scholarship Recipients
- Hossein Bakhshandeh is the winner of our four-year Josephine Walton Health
Career Scholarship. His passion for biology and desire to work with children
will serve him well in his desired career of pediatrician. He will attend
Davidson College in the fall.
- Meghna Srivastava is the winner of our four-year Katherine Fusco Health
Career Scholarship. She participated in Washington Hospital’s Medical
Explorer program and interned at UCSF last summer. Megna desires to be
a physician and will attend University of California, Berkeley in the fall.
- Dylan Scott is the winner of the one-time $1,000 Anna Elola Health Career
Scholarship. He will major in Kinesiology this fall at San Diego State
University in order to become a physical therapist.
- Athena Pham was awarded a $1,000 Edith Piskel Memorial Health Career Scholarship.
She is attending the Dominican University of California pursuing a degree
as a registered nurse. She is also a talented pianist.
- Cynthia Chang was awarded a $1,000 Louis Dawson Memorial Health Career
Scholarship. She had the opportunity to conduct research and shadow physicians
at the Cleveland Clinic this past summer. She will attend Harvard University
in the fall. Jessica Leung was awarded a $500 Louis Dawson Memorial Health
Career Scholarship. She desires to become a pharmacist and will attend
University of California, Davis in the fall.
- Yanet Paredes was awarded a $500 Louis Dawson Memorial Health Career Scholarship.
A family member had a stroke that paralyzed half of his body. This created
a desire in her to become a physical therapist. She will attend Holy Names
University in the fall.
Learn more
To find out more about the Washington Hospital Service League, including
how you can become a volunteer at Washington Hospital, go to www.whhs.com/volunteer