Sentara Health establishes the Howard Kern Legacy Scholarship, empowering future healthcare professionals
Howard P. Kern served as Sentara's president and chief executive officer until September 2022
Sentara Health announced the creation of the Howard Kern Legacy Scholarship, a testament to Sentara's commitment to fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals. With an allocation of $1 million to this scholarship fund, Sentara aims to support the educational aspirations of the children and grandchildren of Sentara employees who aspire to pursue careers in healthcare and related fields such as business and IT.
The Howard Kern Legacy Scholarship offers eligible students attending two-year colleges a $1,500 scholarship, while students attending four-year institutions can receive a $3,000 scholarship per year. Awardees will have the opportunity to apply for scholarship renewals up to three times or until they earn a bachelor's degree.
Scholarship America, Inc., Sentara's scholarship partner, will oversee the application review process. The selection criteria include considerations such as a healthcare major or a related industry, academic performance, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, a statement of career and educational goals, a letter of recommendation, and any exceptional personal or family circumstances.
The scholarship's namesake, Howard P. Kern, made significant contributions to Sentara during his impressive 40-year tenure, serving as Sentara's president and chief executive officer from 2016 until his retirement in September 2022. During this time, Kern served as a leader and mentor for aspiring professionals. The establishment of this scholarship reflects his unwavering dedication to lifelong learning.
"Throughout the decades, Howard encouraged people to explore healthcare careers and embraced every opportunity to mentor them," said Dennis Matheis, president and chief executive officer for Sentara. "I’m grateful for his stewardship and proud to recognize him with this scholarship in his name."
Interested students can apply online. The submission deadline is June 30, 2023, at 4 p.m. Eastern time.