St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital awarded a number of academic scholarships to area students recently.

Bill Moyer, hospital presidents, welcomed students and their parents to the awards reception."You have a lot to be proud of," he said. "It is inspiring to me that so many of you are pursuing careers in health care, that so many of you will make a difference."Craig Zurn, the chairman of the board of directors, presented Board of Trustees Academic Scholarships to students who are in the top 25 percent of their graduating class and enrolled as a full time student at an accredited four year college in the field of health care or science."This is a tribute to your hard work, a tribute to your parents, and a tribute to your schools," Zurn said.The following students accepted Board of Trustees scholarships: Joshua Williams, Jim Thorpe High School, attending Penn State University for optometry; Debra Lobien, Lehighton High School, attending Cedar Crest College for nursing; Molly Joyce, Mahanoy Area High School, attending Shippensburg University for registered nursing.Also, Rose Sheridan, Marian High School, attending Allegheny College for neuroscience; Michael Sloboda, Panther Valley High School, attending Albright University for pre-med; Kolby Mashack, Tamaqua High School, attending Bucknell University for pre-med; and Tiffany Morresi, Weatherly High School, attending Pennsylvania College of Technology for nursing.Dr. J. David Bohri, MD, the president of the medical staff, presented the medical staff scholarships, based on academic excellence and scholarship criteria. Bohri advised the students that as they continue on their academic journey, they will encounter many challenges."Hopefully, this scholarship will tweak your memory, remember that someone had some confidence in (me)," he said.Bohri encouraged students to take advantage of the many opportunities that lie ahead of them.Receiving the medical staff scholarships were Christian Malave, Jim Thorpe High School, attending Penn State University to study bioengineering; Rebecca Hoffner, Lehighton High School, attending Wilkes University to study pharmacy; Shelbey Lynn Kane, Mahanoy Area High School, attending Elizabethtown University to study biology; Lydia Stianchie, Marian High School, attending Temple University to study biology.Also, Alexia Follweiler, Panther Valley High School, attending Lycoming University for pre-med; Amber Schock, Tamaqua High School, attending Harcum College for radiology; and Brittany Hinkle, Weatherly High School, attending Clarion University of Pennsylvania to study radiology.