Ocean City Lions Make Nursing Study Possible for Two New Atlantic General Hospital Students

May 2006 brought the graduation of seven Atlantic General Hospital nursing scholarship students and a fresh opportunity for five more of the Shore’s future nurses, who joined the AGH family through the James G. and Nancy W. Barrett Scholarship Program this fall.

The program, which pays for tuition, books and health insurance for its nursing students in exchange for working at Atlantic General Hospital during school and a commitment to the hospital after graduation, is made possible by several community supporters.

One notable supporter, the Lions Club of Ocean City, sponsors three scholarship students on an ongoing basis. With the fall semester, two new scholarship students, Mitra Fooks and Flor Strang, joined Demiah Carpenter, a registered nursing student who entered the program in 2005, as recipients of the Lions’ generous sponsorship. To date, the Ocean City Lion’s Club has sponsored seven nursing students through the hospital’s scholarship program.

The scholarship program was created in 2000 to address workforce shortages within the healthcare industry. The Lions found in the program a way to invest in the futures of area youth as well as the community by helping train and employ them right here in Worcester County.

“Supporting the program was an easy decision for us,” said John Roeder, president of the Ocean City Lions Club, “It allows us to help students in Worcester County and, through this program, they will more than likely remain here as professionals.”

Photo Caption:

Two scholarship recipients sponsored by the Ocean City Lions pose with members (from left) Ed Montgomery, Jim Starr and Bill Jones during a recent visit. Lori Kneisel (left) graduated in May and now works full time as a registered nurse at Atlantic General Hospital. Demiah Carpenter will graduate in 2008.