High School Students Goals of Health Care Careers Get a Boost

The Washington Health 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 those who wish to pursue a career in health care that live in the health system district. The Service League’s Scholarship Program, which has contributed to the training and education of many young people in the community, was established in 1961. The first nursing scholarship of $150 was awarded to a nursing student training at Highland Hospital.

During the last 65 years, the Service League has awarded a total of $401,905 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, and a one-time scholarship of $1,000.

“Our volunteers enjoy working in the hospital and helping patients and families, but it is also meaningful for them to give assistance and support to future doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in our community,” explained the Service League’s scholarship chair, Dian Zarzycki. “Meeting these impressive young people and learning about their past accomplishments and future goals is inspirational. The Service League of Washington Health is honored to play a small part in developing future health care providers.”

Makayla Thompson is the recipient of the Katherine Fusco Health Career Scholarship. She fell in love with medicine while shadowing 12 medical specialties. Her empathy for children in an orphanage led her to write letters to them in Vietnamese. She wants to become a pediatric or cardiothoracic surgeon.

Catherine Tseng is the winner of our four-year Josephine Walton Health Career Scholarship. She will be pursuing a master’s of science degree in epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. Her interest in medicine was triggered when she helped her mother who had cancer navigate the medical system. She took care of her mother and felt limited by her lack of knowledge. This spurred an interest in science and medicine.

Avreen Bal is the recipient of the one-time Anna Elola Health Career Scholarship. She will be pursuing a master’s degree in social work. Avreen has donated more than 676 hours as a volunteer with Washington Health and says the hospital is a special place. She is passionate about helping those with mental health issues.

Avreen also was awarded the Joseph Imana Memorial Health Career Scholarship.

Mika Kotsubo is the recipient of the one-time $1,000 Ruth Nelsen Memorial Health Career Scholarship. She will be attending Biola University in the fall to pursue her goal of becoming a physician.

Thuy Dung Tam is the recipient of the Devorah Taghioff Memorial Scholarship established by Moses Taghioff, MD, and the Eva M. Ferranti Memorial Healthcare Scholarship. She is enrolled in the nursing program at Ohlone. She reflects warmth, respect, and empathy in her interactions with others and enthusiasm for nursing.

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