The deadline for scholarships offered by the Bryan Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is quickly approaching. Area residents who are planning to pursue a career in a healthcare field are encouraged to quickly apply for one of the seven scholarships to be awarded for the 2013-2014 school year. The deadline is March 1.

“We begin accepting scholarships in September each year,” said Rebecca Culpepper, Auxiliary President, “so that we can give everyone as much time as possible to gather the necessary information. We’ve received a few applications so far, but we expect the bulk to be submitted in these final few weeks before the deadline.”

With a total of six $1,500 scholarships to award, this is no small endeavor for the group of volunteers.

“We really enjoy helping these students further their education,” Culpepper said. “It is so rewarding to be able to assist, in some small way, in helping to assure that deserving students get a chance to further their educations in healthcare.”

The Auxiliary initiated the scholarship program in 2005 with the establishment of the Emmett and Carolyn Clinkscales Scholarship and the Carolyn S. (Betty) McCormick Scholarship.

While both of the $1,500 gift scholarships are available to residents of Marengo, Sumter, Hale, Choctaw, Perry, Greene and Clarke counties, the McCormick scholarship is granted only to children and/or grandchildren of employees of the Tombigbee Healthcare Authority. With a total of six scholarships to present in 2013, three THA family members and three members of the general public will be assisted with their educations.

“This is a one-time, gift scholarship with very few strings attached,” said Culpepper who emphasized that the deadline to apply is strictly enforced. “Because we have so many to express an interest in the program, we maintain a very strict deadline. Everything must be turned in by that date; otherwise, the application will not even be presented to the Scholarship Committee for consideration.”

Applications are available at all area high schools in the guidance department, as well as online at the Tombigbee Healthcare Authority’s website, www.bwwmh.com.

Eligibility requirements for each scholarship are as follows:

•The Auxiliary may award up to $1,500 annually in financial assistance to individuals who reside within the medical service area of the Tombigbee Healthcare Authority and who wish to pursue education in the field of healthcare, without regard to race, color, creed, or national origin.

•Any individual who is a graduating high school senior or above may apply for the scholarships as long as their chosen field of study is within the healthcare professions. The applicant must provide proof of residency in either of the following counties: Marengo, Sumter, Hale, Choctaw, Perry, Greene and Clarke. The applicant must possess a high school education or equivalent GED or other qualification relevant to the field of study applicable.

•The Auxiliary reserves the right to deny, limit, or otherwise reject the application of any individual who, in the opinion of the Auxiliary Executive Committee, has failed to demonstrate acceptable academic performance in previous educational endeavors and meet all criteria, standards, and expectations relevant to the selection process. While the Auxiliary recognizes the right of individuals to select the school that he/she wishes to attend the group reserves the right to deny, limit, or otherwise reject applicants who wish to attend schools which are not accredited or which, in the experience of the Tombigbee Healthcare Authority, have been found to have high rates of failure on licensure examinations or a high rate of failure among students. The disbursement of funds for scholarship students shall be limited to tuition, books and lab fees. These shall be paid directly to the institution in which they are enrolled.

“We also want to make sure that those who have received or applied for one of these scholarships in the past know that they are welcome to apply for these scholarships each year,” Culpepper added.

For more information, call the Volunteer Services Director at 334-287-2626. Scholarship applications are available online at www.bwwmh.com.