Grossmont Healthcare District Awards $205,400 In Scholarships

EL CAJON, CA — The Grossmont Healthcare District awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships to East County health care students as demand for frontline workers remains high, it was announced Thursday.

The health care and social assistance sector is estimated to have accelerated growth through 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, with a 3.1% growth per year. Several areas are experiencing hiring surges, including nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry and physician assistance.

Since 1999, the Grossmont Healthcare district has awarded scholarship grants to East County high school and college students, worth more than $1 million in higher education tuition. This year, a total of $205,400 was awarded to 59 students working or living in East County, including 44 high school students and 15 pursuing higher education.

High school recipients interested in a health care career were selected by school administrators representing 22 local high schools. The 15 higher education students are selected by the GHD board, based on future goals in their health care career.

One of the Health Tech Scholarship winners, Joseph Vahle, is enrolled in the Cardiovascular Technology program at Grossmont College.

"Over the next five years, I will gain more experience and expertise, while continuing to learn about new advancements in my field," he said. "Further down the road, I would also like to teach others and mentor them through the same steps I am taking."

Five scholarships of $3,500 were awarded to students pursuing health tech careers, five $10,000 scholarships to behavioral health students, three $7,000 scholarships for advanced registered nurses and two awards for nursing, one in the amount of $5,000 and the second for $3,000. The remaining $113,850 was awarded to high school students.

"Investing in these local students pursuing health care also supports the future of the health care industry," said Virginia Hall, district board president. "The next wave of healthcare innovation will come from this generation."

The next application period will open on Dec. 1, 2021.

The Grossmont Healthcare District is a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in East County. The District formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital. The district is governed by a five-member board of directors who represent more than 500,000 people residing within 750 square miles.

— City News Service