Rutland Area Medical Community Awards Six 2024 Scholarships

RUTLAND, VT – Members of the Rutland Area Medical Community recently awarded six $3,000 scholarships to local students pursuing or advancing their career in healthcare. The scholarship program has been made possible through the generosity of Rutland area physicians, retired physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.

The Rutland Area Medical Community scholarship is intended to stimulate the region’s best and brightest students, encouraging them to continue their education in the field of healthcare. The scholarship awards are aimed at creating opportunities that empower recipients to achieve excellence in education. Eligible candidates include high school seniors, local college students or Rutland area medical community employees who are working toward furthering their goal of a career in healthcare.

Recently, the volunteer scholarship review committee awarded six 2024 scholarships based on the outstanding applications received.

"Now in its eighth year, the Rutland Area Medical Community scholarship program received 31 outstanding applications from diverse candidates throughout our local region," said Dr. Stanley Shapiro, Co-Chair of the volunteer scholarship committee. “The level of detail that went into the applications provided a comprehensive view of the collective applicant achievements,” continued Shapiro.

This year’s recipients include graduating high school senior Martha Cotter, Rutland High School, who will be attending Columbia University, Alyssa Kennedy a student at the UVM College of Nursing & Health Sciences, and Margo Nolan, a student at the Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine. Additionally, three Rutland Regional Medical Center employees received scholarships to advance their education and they are Wendi Fitz-Gerald, Emergency Department Technician and a nursing student at VTSU Castleton, Ben Hamilton, Emergency Department Technician and a student at the UVM Larner College of Medicine, and Emma Johnson, Emergency Department Technician and student at VTSU Castleton.

2024 Rutland Area Medical Community Scholarship Winners - left to right: Alyssa Kennedy, Wendi Fitz-Gerald, Emma Johnson, Ben Hamilton, and Margo Nolan. Not pictured: Martha Cotter

Since its inception, the Rutland Area Medical Community Scholarship program has awarded more than $79,000 in scholarships to 41 local students pursuing a career in healthcare.

“The generosity of our medical community has continued to enhance the scholarship program with donations that will sustain the program into the future”, said Traci Moore, Senior Director of Development and Community Relations at RRMC. “The commitment and collaboration of local providers enables annual scholarship awards to deserving individuals pursuing a career in the healthcare field.”

The volunteer members of the Rutland Area Medical Community Scholarship Committee are:

Co-Chairs, Stanley Shapiro, MD, FACC, FASNC and Vic Pisanelli, MD, FACS; Sarah Bache, APRN; Brad Berryhill, MD; Jean Corbett, RRT, MD; Dan Mitchell, MD; Amy Pfenning, PNP; Andrew Shayne, MD; Cathy Sommer, CRNA; Michael Vooris, PA; and Matt Zmurko, MD.

Learn more about the Rutland Area Medical Community Scholarship.