Hospital awards scholarships to local students

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. June 22, 2016 Florida Hospital New Smyrna has awarded two students from New Smyrna Beach High School scholarships to pursue degrees in the medical field. Sandesh Sukhdeo received a $2,500 scholarship from the Charlie and Elaine Meyer Scholarship fund. In 2008, Charlie and Elaine Meyer established this endowed scholarship to provide a New Smyrna Beach High School student with $2,500 to pursue a medical degree. Each year, a Florida Hospital New Smyrna nursing committee reviews the applications and selects the recipient. Jessica Daggett was awarded the Judy McDowell Healthcare Careers Scholarship which provides a student with a $4,000 scholarship over a four year period. Daggett will receive $1,000 per year. The Judy McDowell Healthcare Careers Scholarship began in the 1980s in honor of Judy McDowell, an outstanding operating room nurse who had worked at the hospital for many years, but sadly passed away from cancer. Originally started by her family, the scholarship is now funded by Florida Hospital New Smyrna's nursing department. The scholarship is awarded to a student pursuing a nursing degree and applicants are reviewed by a Florida Hospital New Smyrna nursing committee. The scholarship program is an integral part of Florida Hospital New Smyrna's philosophy of support for education, and helps provide students opportunities to pursue their healthcare career goals. About Florida Hospital New Smyrna Florida Hospital New Smyrna is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 46 hospital campuses and nearly 8,200 licensed beds in 10 states. With 112-beds, Florida Hospital New Smyrna is one of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the Florida Hospital East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region has 907 beds and nearly 6,000 employees. For more information about Florida Hospital New Smyrna, visit www.FHNewSmyrna.org.