Monticello, Ark. - The Drew Memorial Health System Auxiliary presented UAM administrators with a donation that funds nursing scholarships for four UAM students. Nursing students Kaylee Barnard, Jessee Brixie, and Mikayla McGregor, all of Monticello, and Alondra Cruz of Hamburg, will each receive an award of $1,000. Drew Memorial Auxiliary, which traditionally grants two scholarships per year, could offer additional student awards this year due to the availability of scholarship funds and the demonstrated excellence of the student applicants. Barnard, Cruz, and McGregor are senior nursing majors on the Monticello campus, pursuing BSN degrees, while Brixie is a Practical Nursing student at the UAM College of Technology in McGehee. Students pursuing a degree in nursing or medicine with at least a 2.5 GPA are eligible to apply for the award each spring semester through the Drew Memorial website, drewmemorial.org.
In addition to supporting students pursuing health care professions, Auxiliary members support hospital activities and health education by sharing time, talents, and energy. The group is comprised of about 25 members who serve Drew Memorial through various on- and off-site volunteer roles in addition to facilitating major fundraising campaigns. The Auxiliary has raised $15,000 in 2021 alone for the hospital, and they expect to meet their annual average of $30,000 in hospital donations by the end of the year. The organization is a member of the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliaries Association.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello offers nursing education on three southeast Arkansas campuses. The UAM School of Nursing in Monticello currently offers AASN, BSN, LPN-to-RN, and RN-to-BSN programs, and has plans to announce expanded offerings in the near future. The UAM Colleges of Technology in McGehee and Crossett both provide Licensed Practical Nurse programs that are regularly recognized for excellence. Each UAM campus partners with numerous hospital and clinic sites which allow for thorough hands-on clinical experiences for nursing students.
Photo Caption: Drew Memorial Auxiliary Members (in pink) join UAM administrators to present their scholarship donation. L to R: Dr. Peggy Doss, UAM Chancellor; Edith Thurman and Shirley Kizer, Auxiliary members; Dr. Brandy Haley, UAM Dean of Nursing; Barbara Brown, Auxiliary President; Mellie Jo Owen, Auxiliary Member; and Ms. Crystal Halley, UAM Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
