Submitted and
Review staff:
In partnership with the Alberta Health Services, the DTHR Foundation and the David Thompson Health Trust presented 10 individuals, including from the local area, with scholarships to help further their health care based education. The scholarships, totaling $10,500, were awarded to existing central Alberta AHS employees and students pursuing education in health care fields as part of the Region’s Learning Advantage Program.
“By providing support to some of our best and brightest, the health region not only builds a culture of learning and excellence, but one that attracts and retains some of the region’s most highly skilled and dedicated health professionals,” said Debbie Whitesell, Manager of Organizational Learning and Leadership. “The bursaries, scholarships and other educational funding are almost entirely supported by donors; people or organizations that want to give back to the health care system in some way. Several of the scholarships we award have great significance not only to the recipient, but to the donor as well.”
Among the winners were Michelle Costello of Bentley who was presented with the Cec and Phyl Holmes Scholarship Fund and Emily Ann Falk of Rimbey who was presented with the Youth Volunteer Scholarship.
“These scholarships, in conjunction with the Learning Advantage program, will work to give Alberta Health Services the competitive advantage it needs to become one of the most attractive health care employers in the country,” says Bryan Judd, AHS Regional Liaison. “By investing in learning, we invest in the people required to meet the growing healthcare needs of our community for years to come.”
Cec and Phyl Holmes Scholarship Fund
Michelle Costello is working towards completion of the Cardiology Technology certificate program and is currently registered in a Basic Cardiac Instrumentation/Electricity course with the goal to be employed as a cardiology technician at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
Currently residing in Bentley with her husband and two young children, she has volunteered as the Director of Disaster Services for the Town of Bentley for the past three years while showing considerable leadership skills and knowledge as well as composure in emergency situations.
Cec and his wife Phyl Holmes were always strong supporters of their community and of healthcare. When Phyllis passed away in 2004, Cec became aware of the opportunity to not only continue to support health care but also to create a lasting tribute to his wife through the establishment of a scholarship fund. The Cec and Phyl Holmes Scholarship is awarded annually to Alberta Health Services employees pursuing programs or course work in cardiology or respiratory health. Recipients receive $1,000 toward course work, clinical certification programs or accredited programs in cardiology or respiratory health.
DTHR Youth Volunteer Scholarship
An active volunteer with the youth volunteer program at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre since she was nine years old, Emily Ann Falk has logged more than 300 hours of volunteer service and has helped in numerous areas such as with crafts and baking, helping porter residents to and from the hair salon, acting as a power wheelchair coach for Occupational Therapy and has also performed clerical duties such as organizing files for the medical records staff. Her volunteer efforts do not end with healthcare however as while attending high school she helped coach various junior high sports teams and instructed sporting camps for the Rimbey Elementary School students.
Presently enrolled in her first year at Red Deer College in the Bachelor of Arts-Sociology degree program with plans to pursue a career in social work, Falk’s focus is on working with troubled youth.
The Youth Volunteer Scholarship is made available annually through the DTHR, the DTHR Volunteer Resources and the David Thompson Health Trust. This scholarship is available to individuals who are registered in the DTHR Youth Volunteer Program, with at least one year of service volunteering a minimum of 30 hours, and must be pursuing post secondary education. The individual must demonstrate strong community involvement and leadership abilities.