Mercy Health - Cincinnati, which provides advanced, quality care with compassion in your neighborhood through its care network, announces that the West Hospital Auxiliary awarded $21,500 in college scholarships to 11 local students.

Each year, the Auxiliary’s Scholarship Committee solicits applications from 26 schools in West Hospital’s service area for the following scholarships:

  • Employee Dependent
  • Hospital Volunteer
  • Community

This year, the Scholarship Committee received 37 applications from 10 different schools.

"All applicants were excellent candidates this year. The students’ quality of grades, activities, essays and recommendations were scored on a scale of 1-100. Out of the nine men and 28 women, 12 of the candidates scored 90 or better,” said Shirley Frey, who chairs the Auxiliary’s Scholarship Committee. “We’re pleased to financially assist the education of future healthcare leaders.”

The students received their scholarships at a special meeting of the West Hospital Auxiliary held on May 2. 

Details on the winners and their plans follow below:

Employee Dependent Scholarship

  • Elizabeth Rehkamp, Oak Hills High School, won $2,500. She will study nursing at Xavier University.
  • Becca Shinkle, Madeira High School, won $2,500. She will study health and rehabilitation science at The Ohio State University.

Volunteer Scholarship

  • Emily Metzner, Mercy High School, won $2,500. She will study dentistry at The Ohio State University.
  • Megan Threm, McAuley High School, won $2,500. She will study pharmacy at University of Cincinnati. 
  • Kylie Montgomery, McAuley High School, won $1,000. She will study nursing at Christ College of Nursing.

Community Scholarship

  • Eric Groll, Elder High School, won $2,500. He will study physical therapy at The Ohio State University.
  • Cameron Hauser, Colerain High School, won $2,500. He will study pre-medicine in neuroscience at The Ohio State University.
  • Erica Roeder, Mercy High School, won $2,500. She will study biology, pre-medicine in pediatric oncology at University of Cincinnati.
  • Lydia Paige Sollmann Belanger, North College Hill High School, won $1,000. She will study pediatric surgery at Miami University.
  • Carly Hawk, Seton High School, won $1,000. She will study biology at The Ohio State University and plans to become a physician assistant.
  • Jessica Lakamp, Taylor High School, won $1,000. She will study kinesiology at Miami University. 

The Auxiliary of Mercy Health – West Hospital raises funds for charitable care and capital purchases that help the hospital provide top quality care to the patients it serves. The Auxiliary also awards annual scholarships to talented area students embarking on healthcare careers.