This year, 28 scholarships were awarded to high school seniors across the region who demonstrated academic excellence and have decided to pursue higher education working towards future careers in the medical field.

“This program is truly special as it reflects Southcoast Health’s commitment to the community. I want to thank the Southcoast Health Ambassadors for their longstanding dedication to our region’s students, and our wonderful donors for their ongoing generosity. By supporting those who pursue careers in healthcare and medicine, we are ensuring there will be skilled caregivers to serve our region for generations to come,” said David O. McCready, President and CEO at Southcoast Health during the event.

The scholarships, totaling $42,000, were awarded on behalf of all three Southcoast Health Hospitals and each student received $1,500 towards their education. This was the highest amount awarded since the program’s inception in 1941 and was made possible by a $1,000 individual contribution from donors, and a $500 match made by the Ambassadors.  

“Reviewing the scholarship applications this year was an honor. The stories students shared about why they wanted to pursue careers in healthcare were varied and profound,” said Meg Rogers, Chair of the Charlton Memorial Scholarship Committee. “Our committee hopes that the scholarship winners stay in touch and consider coming back to Southcoast Health to work once they’ve completed their courses of study.”

The committee received a total of 141 scholarship applications this year. Recipients were selected based on their cumulative GPA or class rank, written essays, guidance letters and their volunteer or professional work experience.

“This year’s applicants were all worthy of recognition, making our final decision a very difficult one. On behalf of the Scholarship Committee, we wish all of these students success as they begin their journey toward a medical career, and we want to congratulate our scholarship recipients on this achievement,” said Janice Sharp, Chair of the St. Luke’s Scholarship Committee.

“The Southcoast Health Ambassadors’ Scholarship Program is one that is vital to our mission. We are proud that each year the number of scholarships awarded to high school graduates through this program continues to grow,” added Elena Coffey, Chair of the Tobey Hospital Scholarship Committee. “Providing a scholarship is one way for the Southcoast Health Ambassadors to assist a future healthcare provider reach their goal and realize their dream.”

Congratulations once again to each of the scholarship recipients!

To learn more about the Southcoast Health Ambassadors and to help to serve our local community, please contact Jennifer Szabo at 508-973-5752 or SzaboJ@southcoast.org or Kimberley Coon at 508-973-5006 or CoonK@southcoast.org.

The following students received a scholarship on behalf of Charlton Memorial Hospital:

• Chloe Pacheco from Fall River is a graduate of Durfee High School and the recipient of the Reverend Dr. Robert P. Lawrence Memorial Scholarship. She will be attending Boston College majoring in Nursing.
• Calysse Paredes is from Fall River and is a graduate of Durfee High School. She received the Southern New England Radiology scholarship and will be attending Bristol Community College majoring in Nursing.
• Ariel Pimental, from Fall River, is a Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School graduate and recipient of The Ann Petrella Memorial Scholarship. She will be attending Bridgewater State University majoring in Exercise Science.
• Julia Raposa is from Fall River and a graduate of Durfee High School. She is the recipient of the Elizabeth & Dr. Robert Schwengel Scholarship. She will be attending Tulane University majoring in Neuroscience.
• Delaney Jacobsen is from Lakeville and is a graduate of Apponequet High School. She will be attending Nazareth University majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Speech/Language Pathology). She is the recipient of The Sullivan Family Charitable Fund scholarship.
• Mason Makuch is from Lakeville and a graduate of Apponequet High School attending Brown University in the fall. He is the recipient of The Dr. Didi Theva Scholarship Award and will be majoring in Chemistry on a pre-med track.
• Alexandra Christina Souza is from Somerset and a Somerset Berkley Regional High School graduate and recipient of the “In Memory of Frederic C. Dreyer, Jr.” Scholarship Award. She will be attending Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences studying Pharmacology.
• Avery Avila, from Westport, is a graduate of Westport High School. She is the recipient of the BayCoast Bank Scholarship and will be attending Brown University majoring in Biology and Anatomy.
• Savanah Fantasia is from Westport and is a graduate of Westport High School. She is the recipient of the Reverend Dr. Amine B Maalouf Scholarship and will be attending the University of Rhode Island, majoring in Psychology.
• Brook Legendre, from Westport, is a Westport High School graduate and recipient of The Southcoast Cardiac Surgery Scholarship. She will be attending the University of Rhode Island and will be studying Biology and Genetics.
• Madison Plourde is from Westport and is a Westport High School graduate. She received the Charlton Memorial Hospital Scholarship and will be majoring in Nursing at Quinnipiac University.

The following students received a scholarship on behalf of St. Luke’s Hospital:

• Kiana Coppa is from Acushnet and a graduate of Fairhaven High School. She received The Dr. Didi P. Theva Scholarship Award and will be attending Providence College majoring in Biology on a pre-med track.
• Elizabeth DaCunha is from Fairhaven and a graduate of Fairhaven High School. She is the recipient of The Dr. Richard H. Warburton Memorial Scholarship and will be majoring in Biology at Simmons University.
• Makayla McGlynn is from Fall River and received the BayCoast Bank Scholarship for 2024. She graduated from Bishop Stang High School and will be attending Northeastern University majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience.
• Logan Reis is from Fall River and graduated from Bishop Stang High School. He received the Sean M. Gannon Memorial Fund of The Cape Cod Foundation Scholarship. Logan will be attending Boston University majoring in Neuroscience & Psychology.
• Brooke Davis, from Dartmouth, is a graduate of Dartmouth High School. She received The St. Luke’s Trauma Team Scholarship and will be majoring in Neuroscience at Northeastern University.
• Teal Galligan, from Dartmouth, is the recipient of The Southcoast Behavioral Health Scholarship. She is a Bishop Stang High School graduate who will be attending Regis College and majoring in Nursing.
• Jade Torres is from New Bedford and the recipient of The Mary A. Lapointe Scholarship. Jade is a New Bedford High School graduate who will be attending Gordon College majoring in Kinesiology.
• Kara Feen is from Rochester and a Bishop Stang High School graduate. She received the John Leimert, MD & Christine Leimert Scholarship. Kara will be attending Providence College and majoring in Nursing.

The following students received a scholarship on behalf of Tobey Hospital:

• Heer Patel is from Buzzards Bay and a graduate of Bourne High School. She is the recipient of the Johnson Spread the Love Scholarship. She will be attending Northeastern University majoring in Nursing.
• Maeve Emma West is from Cataumet and an Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School graduate. She is a Wylde Family Scholarship recipient who will be attending Cape Cod Community College majoring in Nursing.
• Emilia Perriera is from Dartmouth and a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School. Emilia is a recipient of The Wylde Family Scholarship. She will be attending Salve Regina University majoring in Nursing. 
• Emma Cregg is from East Falmouth and a graduate of Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. She is a recipient of The Wylde Family Scholarship and attending the University of Rhode Island majoring in Nursing.
• Jacob Hadley is from Marion and a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School. Jacob is the recipient of The Phyllis Upham Memorial Scholarship. He will be attending Brown University and majoring in Biomedical Engineering.
• Murray Callahan, from Mattapoisett, is a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School. She received The Paul John Coffey Scholarship. Murray will be Attending Texas Christian University majoring in Health Science on a pre-med track.
• Theo Jacobsen is from Mattapoisett and a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School. He is a recipient of The Wylde Family Scholarship. He is attending Tufts University and majoring in Biochemistry on a pre-med track.
• Hunter Bishop is from Rochester and graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School. He will be attending Sacred Heart University and majoring in Health Science and Physical Therapy. He is a Wylde Family Scholarship recipient.

The Southcoast Health Ambassador Employee Scholarship was awarded to:

• Dayna Mbugua is from Taunton and a graduate of Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School. She will be attending Simmons University and majoring in Biology on a pre-med track.

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