South Nassau Communities Hospital Awards Dorothy M. Sharer Scholarship to Local Students

Oceanside, NY, July 31, 2015 --(PR.com)-- In recognition of their selfless service as junior volunteers at South Nassau Communities Hospital, six local high school graduates who plan to pursue careers in healthcare have been awarded the hospital’s annual Dorothy M. Sharer Scholarship.

The recipients, Jonathan Kwan, Valley Stream North H.S/Franklin Square; Allison Riordan, Oceanside H.S./Oceanside; Jessica Massiah, Valley Stream Central H.S/Valley Stream; Dana Crowe, Bishop Kellenberg Memorial H.S./Uniondale; Brandon Jacquet, Baldwin H.S./Baldwin, and Stefan Louis, Baldwin H.S./Baldwin, combined to provide 971 hours of dedicated volunteer service. The scholarships awarded ranged between $250 and $1,000.

The late Dorothy M. Sharer was a devoted and beloved volunteer at South Nassau for more than 30 years who dedicated her life to serving others through volunteerism. Recipients of the scholarship emulate Ms. Sharer’s traits while demonstrating a desire to pursue degrees in higher education that would prepare them for careers in health care.

“Each scholarship recipient embodies Dorothy’s spirit of selflessness and the joy she received from working with and helping others,” said Anne Marie Fernandez, South Nassau’s director of volunteer services. “The scholarship recipients, as well as their fellow junior volunteers, are commended for their good works in support of the hospital and its patients.”

Jonathan Kwan joined South Nassau as a junior volunteer July 24, 2012. Working mostly at the hospital’s messenger desk, Jonathan’s responsibilities included delivering supplies to hospital departments and units and helping visitors navigate the hospital. Jonathan will attend SUNY Binghamton in the fall, where he plans to major in Biomedical Engineering.

A junior volunteer beginning, June 25, 2014, Allison Riordan also served at the messenger desk and performed similar tasks. She also volunteered in the hospital’s Palliative Care Services, messenger desk, as well as its Center for New Beginnings (also referred to as the Labor, Delivery and Maternity Unit). Allison will attend SUNY Plattsburgh to pursue a degree in nursing.

Jessica Massiah joined South Nassau as a junior volunteer June 25, 2013. She served at the messenger desk and SIBSPlace program in Hewlett. She will attend CUNY Queens College in the fall.

Dana Crowe has been a volunteer since July 5, 2013, serving as a messenger and in the Radiology Department. She will attend Temple University in the fall to pursue a degree in Speech Language Pathology.

A junior volunteer since July 1, 2014, Brandon Jacquet worked at the messenger desk and in the Center for New Beginnings. He has multiple healthcare career interests and will explore them while he is a student at SUNY Albany.

Stefan Louis joined South Nassau in October 12, 2013. He served in the Patient Care Services office, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center and the Outpatient Dialysis Center. He plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy at the Malek School of Health Professions at Marymount University in the fall to pursue a degree in Physical Therapy.

Volunteering at South Nassau can be both satisfying and enriching. No experience is necessary: anyone with a little spare time, an easy smile and a kind heart qualifies. Junior high and high school-aged young adults can volunteer after school, on weekends or during spring and summer breaks. It's not only an excellent opportunity to help others, but also a great way to get a firsthand look at the healthcare field for those youngsters who may be considering this as a career.