First USCA freshman awarded Aiken Regional Medical Centers Scholarship
(From left to right) Mikaela Minnear BSN, RN, C-EFM, Perinatal Educator, Teresa Lilly, RNC, Director of Women’s LifeCare Center, Mary Driscoll, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement James Saxon, scholarship recipient Jennifer Redd, BSN, RNC, Nursery, Dawn Shepeard, RN, Perinatal Nurse Manager, Matthew Merrifield, Chief Operation Officer,
The University of South Carolina Aiken continues to create endless and affordable opportunities for students to excel academically.
Recently, USCA awarded a $1500 scholarship funded by Aiken Regional Medical Centers to James Saxon, a freshman biology major at USCA. “I feel very honored to be the first recipient from the university,” Saxon said.
The USCA Women’s LifeCare Center Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1993 to provide support to undergraduate USCA nursing students. To be eligible, the student must have been born at Aiken Regional Medical Centers, be a full-time student seeking a nursing degree with a PGA of 3.0 or higher.
“We are thrilled to be able to award the Women’s LifeCare Center Endowed Scholarship to one of our students. James is the first candidate to meet the requirements and is an excellent candidate for the scholarship,” said Mary Driscoll, vice chancellor for University Advancement.
This opportunity would be a significant milestone for Saxon, who was born at Aiken Regional in 2005, and aspires to pursue a career in medicine. He believes this scholarship could be the catalyst for his journey. “I know that this field will be a long and difficult process and will cost a lot of money, and it could really help me focus on my studies.”
Saxon noted that scholarships such as the USCA Women’s LifeCare Center Endowed Scholarship are incredibly motivating, as they provide students with the necessary support to thrive in their academic pursuits.
There was no doubt in Saxon's mind, USCA was the ideal school to provide him the right tools for a successful career in the medical field. “In biology people don’t have the opportunity to go into labs their first year but I’ve been in the lab for the past two years while attending the Aiken Scholars Academy,” Saxon said. “USCA is just a great place because you can get opportunities that you wouldn’t get at another school.”
Students interested in more information on how to apply for scholarships can do so by contacting the USCA’s Financial Aid Office.
For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.