New Foundation Scholarship Graduates

The latest class of graduates from the WMHS Foundation Scholarship program recently began their new careers at the Western Maryland Health System after completing their nursing degrees at Allegany College of Maryland. The Foundation awarded the first Scholarships in Spring 2001, making this the fifth anniversary of the program. Please welcome the newest members of the health system's nursing staff:

Lesly Humbertson, a Nursing Tuition Scholarship recipient in 2004, has been an employee of the Western Maryland Health System for 19 years. She worked for 14 years as a pharmacy technician at Memorial. Her co-workers cite her approach to her job as enthusiastic, dedicated, caring and professional. Lesly is a wife and mother of a twelve year-old son. Her goals include becoming a Parish Nurse and serving as a paramedic in our community. Lesly is now employed as a registered nurse on the 4 South nursing unit at Memorial.

Julie Smith is a 2003 Nursing Tuition Scholarship recipient and has worked at the health system for four years. She worked as a unit secretary in the Progressive Care Unit at Sacred Heart while attending school. Julie is the mother of four boys under 12 and is a second generation health system employee. Her mother is Joyce Shipley, a payroll/staffing coordinator in Nursing Administration at Sacred Heart, who has 42 years of experience. Julie says that during her time at WMHS, she's had the privilege of working with many remarkable, inspiring nurses and she eventually felt the need to work directly with patients. She has now returned to the Progressive Care Unit at Sacred Heart for her first assignment as a registered nurse.

JoAnne Everett, a Nursing Tuition Scholarship recipient in 2004, has been working at the health system for six years. She worked as a part-time registrar at Sacred Heart, held another full-time job and attended school full-time. JoAnne made the dean's list every semester and graduated this past December. She is described by co-workers as dependable, compassionate, thoughtful and conscientious. JoAnne always envisioned herself working in Hospice or a geriatrics setting and she achieved that goal by going to work as a registered nurse at the St. Vincent de Paul Nursing Center in Frostburg.

Jessica Hott is a 2005 Nursing Tuition Scholarship recipient who has worked at WMHS for five years. Her health care career began as a phlebotomist in the laboratory at Sacred Heart, where she was employed for four years before entering the scholarship program. Jessica is described as someone with an excellent attitude toward her work, displaying both compassion and caring. Her mother is Caron Hott, a unit assistant who works in the Cardiovascular Unit at Sacred Heart. Jessica is the mother of a five-year-old son and is now employed as a registered nurse in the Progressive Care Unit at Sacred Heart.