FHCA Awards $5,750 in Scholarships to Help Long Term Care Employees Advance Their Careers

Tallahassee, Fla. -- Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) recently awarded $5,750 in scholarships to assist nine long term care employees with investing in their education to grow their careers in long term care. Three recipients earned an FHCA Career Climb Scholarship Award, which helps the best and brightest working in FHCA member nursing centers and assisted living facilities with advancing their careers in administration and other disciplines. Six front-line caregivers received a Bruce Taylor Scholarship, totaling $3,750 in awards to help these employees achieve their goal of becoming nurses.

Recipients of FHCA Career Climb Scholarship Awards are currently enrolled in a program to advance their studies, have demonstrated a commitment to the residents entrusted to their care, and shown leadership potential among their peers. Career Climb Scholarship awards for the fall cycle are:

• Rakeem Screen, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Seven Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center in Tallahassee, receiving $750 to pursue an LPN degree;
• Courtney Urban, Area Business Office Manager at Palm Garden of Tampa, receiving $750 to continue her degree in Long Term Care Administration; and
• Errol Webley, a Dietary Supervisor at Menorah Life in St. Petersburg, receiving $500 to pursue a Certified Dietary Manager Food Management Program.

Recipients of FHCA Bruce Taylor Scholarship are currently enrolled in a program to advance their clinical studies, have demonstrated a commitment to the residents entrusted to their care, and shown leadership potential among their peers. Bruce Taylor Scholarship awards for the fall cycle are:

• Sylvia Ware, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Bardmoor Oaks Health & Rehabilitation Center in Largo, receiving $750 to pursue a Registered Nurse (RN) degree;
• Tracye Miller, Admissions Assistant at Plantation Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, receiving $500 to pursue an RN degree;
• Barbara Hosler, an LPN at Menorah Life in St. Petersburg, receiving $500 toward a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to RN bridge program;
• Cobenis Diaz, an LPN at Palm Garden of Clearwater, receiving $750 toward the LPN to Assistant Director of Nursing bridge program;
• Kelly Kelson, a Home Health Aide at Village on the Green in Longwood, receiving $500 to pursue an LPN degree; and
• Leocadia Vargas, Housekeeping Laundry Director at Jackson Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center in Miami, receiving $750 to pursue an RN degree.

“Florida’s aging population is growing, as is the need for dedicated professionals to care for them,” said Emmett Reed, Chief Executive Officer of Florida Health Care Association. “These caregivers have already shown their passion for the profession, and we are pleased to support them as they work to further their education, advance their careers, and help Florida meet a growing need.”

Each recipient included a personal story as part of their application, describing why they are choosing to advance their long term care career. Courtney Urban, for example, shared that her experiences with her grandfather and volunteering with a hospice organization are what inspired her to work in the profession: “I realized that I could ensure the utmost safety and quality care for many more patients as a nursing home administrator and [this position] would give me a chance to advocate for those who can’t for themselves.”

Barbara Hosler said “the feeling of helping someone’s loved one heal and hopefully get better makes me feel rewarded. It’s at that moment I am proud to be a nurse.” Tracye Miller shared that she decided to become a nurse because, "I love helping people and want to work in a profession that is challenging, interesting and makes an impact on people’s daily lives." Miller is pictured right with her administrator Ian Trenchfield and team members at Plantation Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

The Bruce Taylor Scholarship was established to provide resources for FHCA member nursing center and assisted living facility staff to further their education and pursue their career goals of becoming nurses. The Career Climb Scholarship was established to support staff with furthering their education and advancing their long term care careers. Scholarships are awarded twice a year and funded through the Florida Health Care Education & Development Foundation, the Association’s charitable foundation. For more information, visit the FHCA website at www.fhca.org.