South Nassau Communities Hospital Awards Dorothy M. Sharer Scholarship to 3 Area Students

Oceanside, NY, October 27, 2016 --(PR.com)-- In recognition of their selfless service as junior volunteers at South Nassau Communities Hospital, three Baldwin residents have been awarded the hospital’s annual Dorothy M. Sharer Scholarship.

The recipients (who were former classmates at St. Christopher’s R.C. Parish School in Baldwin before moving on to high school), are Dorothy Daga, graduate of Kellenberg Memorial High School, Uniondale, attending Adelphi University; Erin Kastner, graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead, attending University of Florida; and Francis DeOcampo, graduate of Kellenberg Memorial High School, attending NYIT.

The three have a combined 693 hours of dedicated volunteer service to South Nassau thus far. 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.

“Every minute of every hour that they have served as volunteers, Dorothy, Erin and Francis have embraced the spirit of this most honorable award,” said Anne Marie Fernandez, South Nassau’s director of volunteer services. “I commend them, as well as their fellow junior volunteers, for their dedicated work in support of the hospital and its patients.”

A volunteer since June 17, 2014, Dorothy Daga will attend Adelphi University to pursue a degree in nursing. In addition to serving at the hospital Messenger Desk, delivering supplies to patient care units and assisting with a variety of other messenger duties, Dorothy had a significant role in the implementation of Follow My Health, a complimentary internet-based service for patients treated at the hospital. Dorothy helped patients register and log in to Follow My Health, which allows them to access the medical records of the care, treatments and services that they received, whether they are still in the hospital or after they have been discharged.

Francis DeOcampo has been a volunteer at South Nassau since July 27, 2012. A “jack-of-all-volunteer-trades,” his responsibilities have included delivering supplies to patient care units, various Messenger Desk duties, and assisting with a cadre of tasks on patient care units and in the Admitting Department. Francis, who will be attending NYIT in the fall to pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, also volunteered at the hospital’s annual health fair.

Since joining South Nassau as a volunteer June 24, 2015, Erin Kastner has been an omnipresent helping hand throughout the hospital. She has assisted patients and staff on patient care units, delivered supplies as a messenger, and run errands whenever and to wherever requested. This fall she will travel to Gainesville, Fla., to pursue a degree in Health Sciences at the University of Florida.

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. For more information about the junior volunteers program or volunteering at South Nassau, please call Volunteer Office at 516-632-3928.