Mason Health awards three scholarships, jobs

Mason Health, in collaboration with the Shelton School High School Health Sciences Academy, awarded scholarships to three graduating seniors who hope to pursue careers in the medical field.

Eryka Delgado-Hernandez, 17, and Carly VanAagten, 18, received full-ride scholarships from Mason Health to the registered nursing program at South Puget Sound Community College this fall. At the same time, they will work as nurse technicians at Mason General Hospital. If Mason Health has open job positions when they complete nursing school, they will work at the hospital for a minimum of two years.

Gregoria Alonzo Tomas, 17, received a full-ride scholarship from Mason Health to enter the Washington Association for Community Health's 12-month medical assistant apprenticeship program. At the same time, she will work at Mason Clinic as a full-time employee. After that, Tomas will be able to take the National Healthcareer Association exam to work as a certified medical assistant. After becoming certified, she will work at Mason Clinic for at least two years if a job is available.

The three scholarship recipients were honored at a ceremony May 11 at Mason General.

Mason Health CEO Eric Moll called the scholarship program "a huge milestone."

"You all are pioneers - you get to be the first," Moll told the scholarship recipients. He added, "You will be the example for future students to follow."

The apprenticeship program is a great team effort, said Deena Alley, Shelton School District's director of academies K-12.

"Welcome to the Mason Health family," she said.

In 2015, former Shelton Superintendent Alex Apostle founded the Health Sciences Academy in collaboration with Mason Health. The academy was launched in 2017, with Mason Health personnel serving as guest speakers in class and participating in the planning of the program.