By Cecilia Nasmith

While the Northumberland Hills Hospital Health Professions Scholarship often goes to a student graduating from a West Northumberland high school, the 2023 scholarship is furthering the post-secondary health-care studies of two Northumberland residents already well into their respective programs.

The announcement came Thursday evening, following NHH board vice-chair Tom McLean sharing it first at the June board meeting.

Nicole Crisp is a Castleton resident who, after 15 years in executive assistant and administrator roles, was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic to choose an entirely new career in what she considers her true calling – nursing. She completed her first year in Loyalist College's Registered Practical Nurse program this spring and begins her final year in the fall. She is interested in labour and delivery and surgical services, the areas in which she hopes to serve.

Crisp grew up on a Saskatchewan grain farm and, since moving to Castleton, has been a dedicated volunteer in her new home community – as an active parent volunteer at Northumberland Hills Public School and at Community Care Northumberland.

Her application included a letter of reference from Loyalist faculty member Barbara Remington, praising her “strong work ethic and high quality of work.”

Though she could not be present at the board meeting, Crisp did send a message: “I am a full-time student, mother, wife and neighbour who is proud to live in Northumberland and is committed to this community.”

Grafton resident Lola Dickson was able to attend the meeting virtually with her mother Elizabeth, having finished her second year in the University of Ottawa Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences program. Her ultimate goal is to become an obstetrician and to work at NHH. As she said in the press release making the official announcement, “I was born and raised in Northumberland. This is my home, and I would be grateful to be able to work at NHH someday.”

The Cobourg Collegiate Institute graduate garnered several awards in high school and grammar school, as an Ontario Scholar and recipient of the Judy Wright Award for Leadership and the Christine Matthews Award for All-Around Academic Achievement.

Her letter of reference came from Lynn Maclean, manager of the Fare Share Northumberland Food Bank, where she volunteers. Maclean praised her strength of character, describing her as a top student and “an all-around incredible person.”

Dickson is also one of the newer members of the NHH Auxiliary, and has begun volunteering in various NHH departments.

“Thank you guys so much for helping me on my journey,” she told the board over Zoom.

“It means so much to me and my family I can't wait to get past my studies and start working – hopefully with you, someday.”

The Health Professions Scholarship was created in 2003 to help West Northumberland students with their studies toward a career in health care, with the hope of encouraging them to consider Northumberland Hills Hospital as a possible future employer.

The selections are made based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, a letter from the applicant explaining career goals, and written references.

“This year's winners demonstrate a very inspiring combination of commitment to their community and academic skill,” McLean said - “bright, dedicated empathetic at a time of many challenges. They are focused on their goals.”