Local Students Awarded Scholarships to Pursue Health Careers

Scholarships totaling $26,400 were awarded to 27 students pursuing their dreams of a healthcare career. Recipients are Springfield residents and Baystate Springfield Educational Partnership (BSEP) alumni who are enrolled in post-secondary education. Nine are currently employed at Baystate Health. (Photo: Rumbila Abdullahi, B.S. speaking at the BSEP scholarship awards ceremony)

Increasing Springfield's Healthcare Workforce

BSEP aims to build an educated healthcare workforce in Springfield that reflects the diversity of the community. It offers hospital-based learning experiences to high school students in Springfield that allows them to explore different careers and prepare for possible internship or employment opportunities.

More than 500 alumni have been hired at Baystate Health since BSEP's inception, primarily in the areas of clinical and administrative support, allied health, nursing, and graduate medical education—and 287 of them are still working there.

Scholarships Help Meet Financial Challenges

Many BSEP students experience a financial barrier to pursuing their higher education goals. BSEP scholarships help them overcome this challenge by providing funding to pay for their post-secondary education. 

BSEP scholarships are funded through Baystate Health's Community Benefits Program which has awarded almost $775,000 to BSEP students and alumni to date.

BSEP Support Goes Beyond Money

One BSEP scholarship recipient, Suraji Omoru who is a graduate student at Brown University, expressed his gratitude for the support provided by BSEP. 

Rumbila Abdullahi Shares Her BSEP Experience

BSEP alumna and former scholarship recipient, Rumbila Abdullahi, shared her story at the ceremony. Last year she took the MCAT, gave birth to her first child, and graduated from Smith College. She is currently a patient care technician at Baystate Medical Center. Read (or listen to) her incredible story on NEPM: Rumbila's Story: Springfield Woman Works to Balance Career Goals, Family And Tradition.

2022 Scholarship Award Recipients

The August 15, 2022 ceremony was attended by awardees and their families. After remarks by Dr. Kevin Hinchey, Chief Education Officer, and Kristin Morales-Lemieux, Chief Human Resources Officer, the scholarship awards were presented by Michael Knapik, Vice President, Government & Community Relations.