PRESS RELEASE: Genesee County high school seniors invited to participate in Health Career Scholarship Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Jan. 10, 2022

Shannon Ciszek, Communications Coordinator, Genesee Health Plan, 810.232.7740, sciszek@countyhealthplans.org

Jen Shew, Director of Marketing, Sovita Credit Union, 810.720.8437, jshew@sovitacu.org

Genesee County high school seniors invited to participate in Health Career Scholarship Contest

Contest encourages students to focus on health career of their choice and how COVID-19 has influenced their future studies and health

FLINT – Genesee Health Plan (GHP) is accepting entries for its Fifth Health Career Scholarship Contest sponsored by Sovita Credit Union. Contest is open to Genesee County high school seniors planning to pursue a career in the health care or health related sciences. Students in home-school or private school are also eligible to enter.

Students are encouraged to interview one or more family members to thoughtfully explain their family health heritage/history and how their findings influenced their future studies. Essays must also include the health field chosen and why, and how the Coronavirus pandemic influenced their decision.

“This year’s contest is focusing heavily on the students understanding and expression of the impact that COVID-19 has had not only on them and their family but how it impacted their decision to pursue a career in health care. With a national shortage of nurses and health care professionals, we hope that this experience encourages our youth to enter the health care field and make a positive difference on the health care landscape,” said E. Yvonne Lewis, GHP Director of Outreach and Founder/CEO of the National Center for African American Health Consciousness.

The specific scholarship contest guidelines are outlined below and can also be found at geneseehealthplan.org.

Health Care Career Scholarship Contest

• High school seniors planning to pursue a career in health care or health related sciences may enter an essay for the opportunity to receive a scholarship. The essay must include information about the health career they plan to pursue and why, how learning about their health heritage influenced their selected field of study, and how the Coronavirus pandemic impacted their selected field. Two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded.
  • 1,000 words or more
  • Essay must be typed

“Sovita Credit Union is honored to partner with Genesee Health Plan and sponsor this scholarship contest to encourage students in our community to pursue careers in health care, especially right now given the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jen Shew, Sovita Credit Union Director of Marketing. “As a financial institution that serves education and healthcare workers and their families, we believe it is crucial to provide financial and educational opportunities to those working in the health care field and those planning to join the health care work force.”

All essay submissions are due by Friday, March 4. Scholarship recipients will be recognized and awarded during a private ceremony in May.

Essays must be submitted electronically to: healthheritage@countyhealthplans.org.

Contact Sherika Finklea at (810) 232-7740 ext. 217 with any questions.

For more information including specific contest rules and guidelines, visit https://geneseehealthplan.org/

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Genesee Health Plan (GHP) is Genesee County’s plan for better health which began with the vision to have a community where each person has equal and affordable opportunity to live a healthy life. GHP is a nonprofit health care organization that was launched in 2001 to provide health care coverage and life-saving services to the uninsured residents of Genesee County. The plan has provided more than 90,000 county residents with doctor’s visits, cancer screenings, prescription drugs, x-rays and many more life-saving services since 2001. Learn more about GHP at geneseehealthplan.org or call 844.232.7740.