Burgess Health Center Offers New Scholarship

The Burgess Health Center is offering a new scholarship and loan award to qualified candidates of the Burgess service area who plan to pursue associate degrees in nursing or other health care fields and agree to work full-time at Burgess for several years.

Scholarship selection criteria will include academic achievement and financial need. In addition, candidates must live in the Burgess Health Center service area, be within two years of completing the required coursework for licensure or certification in their chosen field and be willing to work as employees of Burgess for at least three years if the loan amount is $7,500 or less.

The amount and number of scholarships available will be determined annually based on the amount of money approved in the budget and the number of qualified applicants, said Jean Pekarek, director of human resources at Burgess. Loans in excess of $7,500 will be forgiven at the rate of $2,500 for each year of full-time employment completed. Scholarship and loan awards will cover tuition, books and laboratory fees.

“We are extremely pleased to offer this new program to individuals who live in our service area,” said Fran Tramp, by Burgess CEO. “We believe it is a win-win for everyone. Through this new program we can help qualified persons pursue a meaningful career caring for others and help meet our employment needs at Burgess at the same time.

“We know this scholarship and loan approach has worked well at other hospitals,” Tramp added. “We want to offer the same kind of special opportunity to persons in the Onawa area.”

Scholarship and loan recipients will be chosen by a selection committee appointed by Tramp. The deadline for scholarship application is June 30. For more information call Burgess, 712 243-9201.