Loyd Stockton (above) is currently using the OTC scholarship to begin his studies as an occupational therapy assistant. Stockton, whose wife works in the neuro unit at Cox South, is currently enrolled in OTC’s allied health studies program.
In the fall of 2010 the first students took advantage of the CoxHealth Scholarship at Ozarks Technical Community College.
Nicole Bargas learned about the scholarship from her dad, a respiratory therapist at Cox South.
“To be considered for the scholarship, the students must be a spouse or child of a CoxHealth employee and enrolled in a pre-allied health or allied health program,” says Stephanie Brown, director of development at OTC.
Allied health programs include: emergency medical technician, physical therapy assistant, medical laboratory technician and occupational therapy assistant. Other covered programs are Associate of Science in nursing, practical nursing, respiratory therapy, surgical technology or health information technology.
“I am taking classes in the physical therapy assistant program. Fall was my first semester at OTC and the scholarship was a great help,” says Bargas. After graduation she hopes to use her degree to work with athletes and sports teams.
CoxHealth and St. John’s each provide $25,000 per semester toward the scholarships.
“Both hospitals made a five-year commitment to OTC. This is a great opportunity for our students,” says Brown.
This scholarship benefits spouses and dependents of employees, as well as the community. “The scholarships help ensure that our community has professionals to meet the growing demand in health care,” says John Hursh, vice president of Human Resources at CoxHealth.
Hursh believes that many of the graduates who benefit from the scholarship will stay in the Springfield area.
“If their parents or spouse have a positive experience working here, then the graduate will be more likely to pursue employment at CoxHealth,” says Hursh.
Loyd Stockton, an occupational therapy assistant student, is interested in employment at CoxHealth after he graduates in May. Stockton was already enrolled in the allied health program at OTC when his wife, who works in the neuro unit at Cox South, told him about the new scholarship.
“The scholarship has helped with classes, books and the extra lab fees that are required for many of the allied health classes,” says Stockton. He chose this program after he volunteered at the nursing home where his mother works and he observed occupational therapists working with residents.
“I knew I wanted to work with patients and help them as much as I could,” he says.
Once students graduate from an allied health program, they also have the option of continuing their education at Cox College.
For more information about the CoxHealth Scholarship at OTC, visit otc.edu/foundation.
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