Methodist Medical Center and Roane State Community College representatives were on hand for the scholarship donation presentation on August 27. Left to right are: Taynia Thornton, MMC volunteer services coordinator; JoRene Finnell, Student Specialist, Roane State Foundation; Dr. Chris Whaley, President, Roane State Community College; Pamela Rudnitzki, Director of Student Programs, Roane State Foundation; Jeremy Biggs, MMC president and chief administrative officer; Pat Rowe, Roane State Foundation board member and MMC volunteer.
September 6, 2024
Methodist Medical Center’s Volunteer Organization recently awarded Roane State Foundation with a $15,000 contribution toward scholarships for nursing and health science students. This gift will help students with needs not covered by state or federal grants.
“Every student should have the opportunity to pursue their goals,” said Dr. Whaley, president of Roane State. “While eligible students can receive grants to assist with tuition, some are unable to cover additional costs. This is especially true for health science students, who may need specialty shoes, scrubs, and related items for their courses. These scholarships help bridge the gap and remove financial barriers so students can complete their education.”
This latest donation follows a rich tradition of support started by MMC’s Volunteer Organization more than 20 years ago, when it launched a six-year scholarship program for graduating high school seniors in the hospital’s five county service area – Anderson, Roane, Morgan, Campbell, and Scott counties.
The scholarships were for $1,000 each and were renewable for an additional year if the students remained in good academic standing and continued to pursue a career in healthcare. Similar donations were made in 2019 and 2023, and this year, the volunteers have once again renewed their commitment to the education of strong clinical professionals.
“We are so thankful for the incredible support and partnership we have with both our Volunteer Organization, Roane State Community College, and Roane State Foundation,” said Jeremy Biggs, MMC president and chief administrative officer. “This collaboration continues to foster the growth and development of our next generation of caregivers.”
“With more than 1,700 scholarship applications, this is our year of greatest need yet,” said Pamela Rudnitzki, director of student programs with the Roane State Foundation. “We are thankful for this continued partnership with Methodist Medical Center and our shared commitment to ensure access to healthcare education across our communities.”
Methodist Medical Center is part of the Covenant Health System, which donated 10 acres of land in West Knoxville to Roane State Community College in 2023. The land is now the site of Roane State’s new Knox Regional Health Science Education Center. The 130,000-square-foot facility will be focused on healthcare education and will be home to several major health science programs offered by Roane State as well as TCAT Knoxville. The Center is set to open in the fall of 2025.
Roane State Foundation is currently raising funds to finish the Knox Regional Health Science Education Center project, purchase needed equipment, and provide scholarships for students pursuing careers in health science. Details on this effort are available at thrive.roanestate.edu.
To learn more about Methodist Medical Center, go to mmcoakridge.com.
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