WEST POINT, Mississippi – To assist aspiring health care professionals, Rotary Club of West Point and the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi have partnered to create a new $9,000 annual scholarship program.

Starting this spring, the Rotary Club of West Point will award three $3,000 scholarships to assist those pursuing a career in health care. The Health Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of North Mississippi Health Services that oversees all NMHS scholarship programs, is working with the Rotary Club to create an endowment to support the scholarship program into the future.

“There is a need for more health care workers in Clay County, and our hope is to address that need by offering a financial path to those interested in entering the field,” said Jack Wells, president of Rotary Club of West Point. “Of course, upon completion of their studies, we hope the recipients will stay in Clay County.”

The one-year scholarships will be open to graduating Clay County high school or home school seniors and adults seeking health care careers who live in Clay County. The deadline to apply is March 1, and the scholarships will be formally awarded at high school award days and during a Rotary Club meeting.

“The health care field offers some of our brightest minds the opportunity to bloom without leaving Clay County. Helping to grow our own health care professionals is the best strategy for ensuring our future workforce,” said Barry Keel, NMMC-West Point administrator. “On behalf of NMMC-West Point, we are very thankful that the Rotary Club of West Point has chosen to establish these new scholarships to support this endeavor.”

In addition to pursuing a health care career, applicants must:

• Have a 3.0 grade point average
• Three letters of recommendation
• Submit a completed application and 350-word essay.

The Rotary-sponsored scholarship joins the Dr. Hiroji Noguchi Memorial Scholarship, the Dr. Ed Miller Memorial Scholarship and the Foundation Health Career Scholarships that are available to Clay County residents pursuing careers in health care.

Applications are available at nmhs.net/scholarships.