(Greenwood, S.C., August 1, 2014) – Eight local students have each been awarded a $1,000 nursing scholarship from The Self Regional Healthcare Foundation at its annual nursing scholarship luncheon. The Foundation has two funds named in honor of two influential nurses who worked at Self Regional: the Mary Ella Ruff Nursing Scholarship fund and the Charlotte Blackwell Memorial Nursing Scholarship.

The recipients for the 2014 Mary Ella Ruff scholarships are Anna Baughman of Abbeville, Jessica Cameron of Ninety Six, Mirisha Coleman of Abbeville, Kara Lowery of Due West and Adam Taylor of Chapin.

The Mary Ella Ruff Nursing scholarship was established in honor of one of Self Regional Healthcare’s most dedicated and influential nurses, Mary Ella Ruff, who retired in 1978 after 35 years of service. This scholarship is awarded to persons enrolled in a certified nursing program in the state of South Carolina or to practicing nurses who are advancing their professional skills. The total amount distributed for the Mary Ella Ruff Nursing Scholarship was $5,000, with each winner receiving $1,000.

Since 2005, the Charlotte Blackwell Memorial Nursing Scholarship has been awarded to deserving students who wish to spend their careers at Self Regional Healthcare after completing nursing programs at Lander University or Piedmont Technical College. In 2013, an extension of the Charlotte Blackwell Memorial Nursing Scholarship was created to award a critical care nurse at Self Regional with a scholarship to help fund attendance to the annual NTI Critical Care Conference. The recipients for the 2014 Charlotte Blackwell Memorial Nursing scholarship are Ashley Owens of Saluda, Kadeidra Chandler of Edgefield and Mona McKinney of Greenwood. The total amount distributed for the Mary Ella Ruff Nursing scholarship was $3,000 with each winner receiving $1,000.

The Self Regional Healthcare Foundation’s scholarship program is built on community campaigns and fundraising that ensures qualified and talented individuals have the opportunity to pursue a career in healthcare.

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About Self Regional Healthcare
Self Regional Healthcare Foundation is a 501-C3 that supports Self Regional Healthcare, a not-for-profit, regional referral hospital that provides care to residents of Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, Saluda, McCormick, Edgefield and Newberry counties. Services include prevention and wellness, acute care and tertiary care services including cancer care, neurosurgery, heart and vascular surgery, NICU, orthopedics and genetics. Self Medical Group is its employed physician affiliate network of 20 practices and more than 60 physicians.

Members of the Charlotte Blackwell Memorial Nursing Scholarship committee present certificates to 2014 scholarship recipients, Kadeidra Chandler of Edgefield and Mona McKinney of Greenwood. Pictured from left are John Paguntalan, Mona McKinney, Kadeidra Chandler and Kaye Brock. (Not pictured is scholarship winner Ashley Edwards of Saluda.)

Members of the Charlotte Blackwell Memorial Nursing Scholarship committee present certificates to 2014 scholarship recipients, Kadeidra Chandler of Edgefield and Mona McKinney of Greenwood. Pictured from left are John Paguntalan, Mona McKinney, Kadeidra Chandler and Kaye Brock. (Not pictured is scholarship winner Ashley Edwards of Saluda.)

Members of the Mary Ella Ruff Nursing Scholarship committee present certificates to 2014 scholarship recipients: Anna Baughman of Abbeville, Jessica Cameron of Ninety Six, Mirisha Coleman of Abbeville, Kara Lowery of Due West and Adam Taylor of Chapin. Pictured from left are Dr. John Scott, Dr. Travis Stevenson, Georgia Gillion, Adam Taylor, Mary Ella Ruff, Jessica Cameron, Kara Lowery, Mirisha Coleman and Anna Baughman.

Members of the Mary Ella Ruff Nursing Scholarship committee present certificates to 2014 scholarship recipients: Anna Baughman of Abbeville, Jessica Cameron of Ninety Six, Mirisha Coleman of Abbeville, Kara Lowery of Due West and Adam Taylor of Chapin. Pictured from left are Dr. John Scott, Dr. Travis Stevenson, Georgia Gillion, Adam Taylor, Mary Ella Ruff, Jessica Cameron, Kara Lowery, Mirisha Coleman and Anna Baughman.