Lenoir Hospital Foundation provides five education scholarships including first time award

Lenoir Hospital Foundation recently provided funding to support five recipients with scholarships and an award, assisting with college and continuing education for individuals pursuing pathways for healthcare careers and personal growth. 

The Gary E. Black Memorial Impact Award was created in 2023 to memorialize the legacy of long-time Lenoir Memorial Hospital CEO, Gary Black, who gave 32 years of service to the hospital. His leadership and strong relationship with the hospital workforce, and belief that every employee had a role in the overall success of the organization was evident in his daily mentoring and fostering of individual excellence. After his death in 2022, the Gary E. Black Memorial Impact Award, an endowed fund within the foundation, was created as the first annual non-clinical employee award at the hospital.  Ms. Kimberly Gray in the Patient Accounting Department received the inaugural award and will be using her award towards the pursuit of a non-clinical degree in healthcare administration.

Ms. Dedra Gooding-Houston, a nursing student at James Sprunt Community College is the 2023 recipient of the Jamie C. Fields Memorial Nursing Scholarship. The Jamie C. Fields Memorial Scholarship was established in July 2002. The scholarship is in recognition of Jamie Chris Fields, a former employee of Lenoir Memorial Hospital who died while working as a pharmacy technician and attending Lenoir Community College to pursue a career in nursing. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to an employee or to the son/daughter of an employee of UNC Health Lenoir who is actively enrolled in a college or community college program to obtain a degree in nursing. 

Ms. Lydia Webb, a nursing student at ECU is the 2023 recipient of the Stackhouse Memorial Nursing Scholarship. The Stackhouse Memorial Scholarship was established in September of 2008 by Mr. Jerry Stackhouse through contributions to the Lenoir Hospital Foundation. The annual scholarship is given in memory of Jerry’s sisters and the 2023 award honors the memory of Ms. Clema Jean Peterson who died from diabetes.

Ms. MacKenzie Rouse was recently awarded the Lenoir Hospital Foundation's Nancy Peele Memorial Scholarship. She is enrolled in the Lenoir Community College Radiography Program. The Nancy Peele Memorial Scholarship was established in January 2010 in memorial recognition of Nancy Peele, a native of Williamston, North Carolina, who worked in the radiology department and in the laboratory of Lenoir Memorial Hospital for nearly 47 years. This scholarship is for students enrolled in either radiology or laboratory programs.

Mr. Caden McIntyre, a nursing student at ECU is the 2023 recipient of the Cindy A. Jones Memorial Nursing Scholarship. The scholarship was established in October of 2004 in recognition of Cindy Alphin Jones, RN, a beloved nurse working in the Ambulatory Care Unit at the time of her death.  Cindy fought a long and courageous battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and touched the lives of all employees but especially her fellow nurses. Each September, her twin sons award the recipient, along with their father and uncle.

The Lenoir Hospital Foundation was established over thirty-five years ago to receive and steward private donations for the purpose of enhancing patient care through support to UNC Health Lenoir. For more information about the Foundation please go to lenoirfoundation.org.