RUMFORD – Each year Rumford Hospital and its Auxiliary award loans to local students pursuing careers in healthcare. If the student returns to the hospital to work for a year or to Rumford Community Home to work for six months following graduation, the loan is forgiven. If there are no hospital-connected jobs available in the student’s specialty when the student graduates, the loan is also forgiven.

Loans are $2,000 for each academic year and are awarded only after a successful first semester. The loans are made from a fund established many years ago by the Rumford Hospital Auxiliary, augmented by donations over the years. A committee comprised of auxiliary members and hospital staff reviews loan applications each spring and selects recipients.

Sometimes called the “nursing scholarship,” the program supports students headed for other healthcare professions as well, including physical therapy, radiology, pharmacy and laboratory.

“The professions that are supported each year are based on Rumford Hospital’s current and projected needs for staff,” notes RH Director of Nursing Jane Aube. “Coincidentally, this year all the awards have been made to nursing students.”

Although the loans have traditionally been awarded to high school seniors, this year’s loans will all go to non-traditional students. Bobbie Olsen of Canton will enter her second year at the Central Maine Medical Center School of Nursing. She has been awarded $2.000. Both Harold Herschlag of Bryant Pond and Don Elliot of Rumford are also entering their second year at CMMC School of Nursing and have been awarded $2,000 each.

Vickey Milledge of Rumford, Michelle Cunningham of Rumford and Tamara Breton of Roxbury are looking forward to their first year at CMMC School of Nursing and Central Maine Community College and will each receive $4,000 over their two years of training to become registered nurses.

Nicole Mosie of Rumford is entering a three-year bachelor of nursing program at the University of Southern Maine and will receive $6,000 of support over that period.

Aube and Auxiliary President Barbara Belanger hosted a tea at the hospital for the students and both wished them well in their studies. “We are hoping that you will all want to come to Rumford Hospital to work after your studies are completed,” said Aube. “This is a great time to be a nurse – especially a nurse at Rumford Hospital.”