The Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation (ALHF) has named two 2013 Healthcare Career Scholarship recipients. Lindsey Sanders of Lincoln and Lyndi Leesman of Hartsburg will receive a total of $20,000 over 4 semesters with an agreement to work their first job out of college at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital (ALMH).

ALHF has made a commitment to invest in the future workforce of ALMH through its Healthcare Career Scholarship Program.

Sanders and Leesman were selected for the scholarship after a rigorous application process that included three rounds of interviews, reference checks and job shadowing at ALMH. Sanders is a graduate of Lincoln College and is attending Methodist College to earn a bachelor’s of science in nursing. Leesman has been working as a dental hygienist and has been accepted at OSF St. Francis College of Nursing and will begin the program in the fall.

This is the third year for the scholarship program. In 2011, Hannah Sheley and Betsy Leesman were named scholarship recipients. Betsy Leesman is attending Heartland Community College and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Hannah Sheley is attending Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where she is working toward a pharmacy degree. Sheley is working this summer as an intern in the pharmacy department at ALMH. In 2012, the Foundation awarded Alissa Cross a scholarship to assist her in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Cross is currently working in acute care at ALMH as a certified nursing assistant and is attending Heartland Community College.

“We think supporting the studies of students who have made job commitments to ALMH reflects the mission of both the foundation and the hospital,” said Eric Graue, Chairman of the ALHF. “This forward-thinking approach is a win-win-win situation for the hospital, the community and the students.”

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is a community-based critical access hospital serving the people of Logan and eastern Mason County. The Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation was formed in 1986 to support the mission of ALMH. Contributions to the scholarship fund are welcome at anytime. To learn more about this and other Foundation programs, contact Executive Director Marty Ahrends at 217-605-5006 or visit www.almh.org.