HomeNewsNursing student / health system employee receives Health Care Career Scholarship

Nursing student / health system employee receives Health Care Career Scholarship

Olivia (Wielenga) Chapman is the recipient of an Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF) scholarship. Chapman, a nursing student at Dordt College and an employee with Orange City Area Health System, is one of 32 college students from all parts of Iowa receiving $3,000 each for the upcoming academic year. The students are all studying in healthcare fields.

IHA established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program to help address the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals and encourage young Iowans to remain in the state as they establish their careers. In exchange for financial support, scholarship-receiving students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award.

Chapman has been part of Orange City Area Health System since 2004. She began as an activity server at the health system’s Long Term Care facility. In November of 2005 she transferred to the hospital as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). In 2008 Chapman took on the role of Unit Coordinator in addition to CNA, and in July of 2009 she was awarded the Ruth Roghair Nursing Scholarship.

The IHERF scholarship recipients are evaluated on grade-point average, a written personal statement, letters of reference, and extracurricular, community, and healthcare-related activities.