APRIL 18, 2024 BOARD MEETING

         Review & Assessment of  2024 Dr Diters Scholarship Applications

Present: Janot Bente, Sylvia Cancela, Jim Gavin, Shelly Millane, Kristin Oswald, Allie Southworth-Eck, Sandy Trionfini. Absent: Deirdre Lloyd, Nancy Triou

It’s 6:30pm on April 18, 2024,   we have a quorum, so the Zoom Board Meeting of the Canton Community Health Fund is Open. Our focus tonight will be the Review & Assessment of 4 Dr Diters Scholarship Applications received as of the revised deadline of April 16, 2024.

Sylvia provided a quick review on the How & Why of our Dr Diters Scholarship assessment processes since we only award these this once a year & we all need to be on the same page to move forward productively.

PURPOSE

• The purpose of the Dr D Scholarship is Support for CHS Dreamers who are just starting out with the idea of who they could possibly be. That’s why the Board agreed, when we reimagined the Dr Diters application in 2023, that we would award a FLAT $1,000 scholarship, not verify information provided in the application & continue to operate under the CHS banner as part of their other scholarship programming.

• NOTE: In contrast, the new Pay It Forward application (to be reviewed & assessed at our May 20^th meeting), has a different target market where we Invest in those already more focused on a career plan in healthcare or public safety/service. The PIF will require basic due diligence on application information & offer a MINIMUM award of $1,000, with flexibility of additional funding depending on the quality of the individual candidate.

PROCESS

• Prior to 2023, the review & assessment of Dr Diters applicants was the focus of a sub-committee who took their recommendations to the Board for final approval. Since 2023, we all own & are responsible for CCHF’s Scholarship programming.
• The importance of all informed voices participating in decision making, understanding the differences between CCHF’s two Scholarships & what happens administratively once we make a decision, cannot be overstated.
• Rather than competing against other applicants, each Dr Diters applicant is only competing against our Mission – what potential does their dream have to contribute to the health, safety & well-being of our or another community – that’s our discussion.
• These are ‘blind’ applications, although any Board member can recuse themselves if they recognize an applicant & don’t feel they can be neutral in their assessment.

ASSESSMENT

• Priorities:
  • High Academic Achievement
  • Commitment to the Canton Community
  • Evidence of Financial Need

VOTING

• Straight majority vote.

BUDGET

• There’s no budget per se, other than the $1,000 that each applicant may receive.

NEXT STEPS: ADMINISTRATION/OPERATIONS

• Deirdre: Work as Board liaison to CHS for Nest Steps
• Sylvia: Follow up with Kathy Wood to determine Administrative steps, i.e. how the checks get to the selected colleges, etc.
• Approval & Denial letters were drafted & approved in 2023 & will be edited to reflect 2024 awards.

REVIEW & ASSESSMENT

Applicant A

Pros: Spent time at Children’s Medical Center, a very challenging environment. So, already has hands-on, observational hospital experience. Took initiative to determine what the job will look like. Spent her free time shadowing in a medical environment.  Has not 1 but 2 jobs while in high school, participating in athletics & scholastic achievement/awards, plus time for volunteering/community service. Financial need established.

Concerns: None identified.

Decision: APPROVED 7/7 votes.

Applicant B

Pros: Good student. Excelled at swimming, so athletic/physical therapy connection.

Concerns: Unsure of pursuing P/T which is an advanced not an undergrad degree. No extenuating circumstances.

Decision: DENIED 4/3 votes.

Applicant C

Pros: Strong GPA & AP coursework. Lots of community service. Helped others & sick mother, so has direct ‘hands on’ patient contact, vs only reading clinical books – all while attending school & participation in athletics.

Concerns: No financial need identified. Coursework focused on science vs healthcare.

Decision: APPROVED 7/7 votes.

Applicant D

Pros: Animals have been the focus of her life, schooling, volunteer & community work. This is a very challenging medical field that requires focus. Animals may not be human, but they are widely regarded as an important component of human mental health. Great academics & awards. Mentioned that failure is part of the process, but you keep going. Financial need.

Concerns: Is Veterinarian medicine healthcare? It’s very difficult to become a vet. If PT is not a medical field neither is a vet. Uncertain about which school (of many accepted at) that she will be attending. Unsure about funding for $30-$40k annual tuition etc.

Decision: Decision: APPROVED 4/3 votes.

MOTION #1: TO FUND DR. DITERS AWARDS

 SANDY MADE A MOTION TO PROVIDE $1,000 DR DITERS SCHOLARSHIPS TO EACH IF THE FOLLOWING APPLICANTS, NOW IDENTIFIED AS:

1. APPLICANT A: Samantha Yanke
2. APPLICANT C: Alena Scott
3. APPLICANT D: Abigail Underkoffler

APPLICANT B:  Jasmine Johnson was denied a Scholarship.

KRISTIN SECONDED THE MOTION. THERE WAS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION & THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

MOTION #2: TO ADJOURN

KRISTIN MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE APRIL 18, 2024 ZOOM BOARD MEETING OF THE CANTON COMMUNITY HEALTH FUND AT 7:37PM. SANDY SECONDED MOTION. THERE WAS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, SO THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED.

 Board members were thanked for attending this double session of Zoom meetings & for their preparation & participation.

Last modified: January 10, 2025