Christen Bovenmyer Receives IHERF Scholarship

Christine Bovenmyer of Ames an employee of Boone County Hospital (BCH) who is pursuing a degree in nursing at Des Moines Area Community College, has been awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF), which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA).  She is among 34 outstanding students from all over Iowa who is receiving assistance this year from the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program.

Iowa hospitals established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program in 2004 to help address the ongoing shortage of health care professionals and encourage young Iowans to remain in the state as they establish their careers.  The first scholarships were awarded in 2005, and now 301 students have benefited from the program.  Including these latest awards, the scholarship program has provided more than $900,000 in direct support to students since its inception.

In exchange for that financial support, scholarship-receiving students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award.  In this way, the scholarship program helps stabilize and enhance Iowa’s hospital workforce.

Hospital leaders from all parts of the state evaluated scholarship applications from more than 100 qualified students who were judged on grade-point average, a written personal statement, letters of reference, and extracurricular, community and health care-related activities.

“We are very proud to support these high-achieving students who will help Iowa hospitals continue their tradition of providing quality health care throughout the state,” said IHA President and CEO Kirk Norris.

Pictured:  Joe Smith BCH CEO presents Christine Bovenmyer with her scholarship check