Three local college students have been awarded significant scholarships by the Dr. John Warner Hospital Foundation.

Jaimie Covey, Devon Severson, and Lizzy Gabel were each presented a 2-thousand dollar scholarship Friday by the Foundation as part of the Belinda Rittenhouse Memorial Scholarship program.  Dixie Walden, President of the Foundation, explains the program is in honor of longtime hospital employee Belinda Rittenhouse, and it utilizes funds donated by the now defunct Hospital Auxillary.

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The scholarships are given out to area students pursuing a medical career.  All three of this year's recipients say past experiences have led them into a career in medicine.  Covey says the award will help her pursue a nursing degree at Millikin University.

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Severson is attending SIU-Carbondale for a degree in Radiology.

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Gabel is entering her second year at Rush Medical College in Chicago in pursuit of her MD.

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The DJWH Foundation is set to award another round of scholarships next year.  Applications should be available at local schools in March of 2013.

PHOTOS: Members of the DJWH Foundation and the Rittenhouse family present Covey, Severson, and Gabel with their scholarship awards in front of the hospital.