Northumberland Hills Hospital announces that local students Alishia Campbell, Meaghan Catton and Alicia Zoldy are recipients of its 2022 Health Professionals Scholarship – at $1,500 per student.
The announcement was made virtually at the hospital board's June meeting.
This presentation continues a tradition started in the board in 2003 to support Northumberland Students who have chosen to pursue a career in the health-care sector. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a full-time study program and undergo evaluation on a number of criteria, including academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, and a first-person testimonial explaining career goals and including written references.
All 2022 winners are from Cobourg, and all have been volunteers with Northumberland Hills Hospital's Elder Life Program. Further details were shared at the board meeting.
Alishia Campbell
This accomplished student is enrolled in the Respiratory Therapy Program at Conestoga College in Kitchener. Prior to this, she earned an Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, where she was a Dean's Honours List recipient (a distinction awarded to graduating students with an average higher than 80%).
Alishia's professional aspirations are complemented by past volunteerism, having logged countless hours of experience between Belleville General Hospital's Children's Treatment Centre and GRASP Occupational Therapy Program. She also has a publication in the Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario Airwaves.
Her academic merits earned high praise from Conestoga College Respiratory Therapy Program Co-ordinator Tim LePage.
“I have observed Alishia's effective communication skills with peers and teaching staff, and I know she will be an asset to the Respiratory Therapy field,” he wrote.
“A critical thinker, kind and patient individual, she harbours innate personality traits that will help her well in the future.”
Her self-motivation and drive have been highlighted by peers in her home community, where she is well known in the sports and athletics community. As COVID-19 restrictions began to lift, she was celebrated by community members for helping to plan a weekly drop-in sporting event to offer a safe and enjoyable activity.
“Through her studies and her extracurricular pursuits, Alishia strives to promote health and wellness while building community,” the announcement said.
Meaghan Catton
Currently enrolled as a first-year student at the University of Toronto's Master of Health Science Speech-Language Pathology Program, Meaghan hold a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences (French immersion) from the University of Ottawa – where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the Merit Scholarship six times over her undergrad years.
Meaghan has also received the French Studies Bursary, both Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and the CIBC Mentorship Scholarship. She was the sole candidate from Ontario to be awarded a Wallonie-Bruxelles International scholarship to study French at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
She is also a volunteer with Learn To Skate Assist, Environmental Outreach for local schools, Run For Women and additional activities at the Ottawa Hospital.
Her professional merits were strongly endorsed by Cobourg's Waterfront Operations Assistant Manager Julie Behan-Jones, who called her a valued staff member. The reference letter she wrote praised Meaghan's commitment to her home town.
“Ms. Catton was very clear with regards to her goals and commitment to her hometown during her career with the municipality and continues to provide me with updates on successes and hopes with regards to beginning her advocacy in the community that she grew up with.
“She consistently outlined her plan to return to the area and find employment using her education and training to 'give something back' and from her tenacious attitude I believe she will accomplish her goal.”
Meaghan's interest in speech-and-language studies was inspired by her sister, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder more than 14 years ago. She credits the impact of speech therapy with giving her sister a voice, and hopes to empower others through a career in Speech and Language Pathology.
Alicia Zoldy
As a first-year graduate student pursuing a Masters Degree in the University of Western Ontario's Speech-Language Pathology program, Alicia holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Carleton University. In addition to her degree, Alicia is a frequent addition to the Dean's List and recipient of the President's Scholarship, Lester Bowles Scholarship and Gordon Robertson Scholarship.
Her extra-curricular contributions include volunteering at the Aphasia Centre of Ottawa and serving as Carleton University's dragon-boat team captain.
Her achievements were recognized and celebrated in a supporting letter from Western University's Faculty of Health Sciences Assistant Professor Julie Theurer, who described Alicia as a “mature, industrious and committed student.
“She approaches each day with a smile and a 'can do' attitude. One of the most impressive qualities I've come to learn from Alicia is her community-mindedness. She speaks very highly of her volunteer experiences at NHH, and is committed to returning to the community to contribute in a professional activity.”
Alicia's professors at Western University recognize her commitment to continued education and volunteerism in the field of Speech-Language Pathology. Under the clinical supervision of Professor Taslim Moosa, she and her SLP colleagues run an aphasia group, where her interactions with patients have been described as exemplary.
NHH board Chair Pam Went acknowledged the hard work and commitment to quality all three recipients demonstrate.
“We typically present two awards, and this year we simply could not narrow it down to two. These young women have all excelled through exceptionally challenging times. Their families and teachers should be very proud. The strength and resilience they have shown, and the steadfast focus on their goals while also giving back to their communities, bodes very well for their future and ours,” Went predicted.
“It is a true pleasure to present each of them with a small token of this hospital's support for their efforts. Congratulations on your achievements to date, Alishia, Meagan and Alicia, and best wishes as you work toward your next academic goals.”
Information on the requirements for this annual award can be found under the Careers section of the hospital website (nhh.ca). Applications are invited at any time, but typically close in February of each year with winners announced at the June board meeting.