New scholarship established for nursing and health science students at Roane State Community College

Roane State Community College’s Roane State Foundation has received a $15,000 gift from the Methodist Medical Center’s Volunteer Organization for the establishment of a scholarship that will support students who are studying nursing and health sciences. The funding will assist students who demonstrate financial need that is not already covered by other grants.

According to an article on Roane State Community College’s website, Dr. Chris Whaley, the college’s president, was quoted as saying of the funding, “Every student should have the opportunity to pursue their goals. While eligible students can receive grants to assist with tuition, some are unable to cover additional costs. This is especially true for health science students, who may need specialty shoes, scrubs, and related items for their courses. These scholarships help bridge the gap so students can complete their education.”

Methodist Medical Center’s Volunteer Organization has a long history of supporting the college. In 2005, the organization started a tradition of funding scholarships for students who graduate from high schools within the medical center’s service area, which includes Anderson, Roane, Morgan, Campbell, and Scott counties. The $1,000 scholarships were renewable for another year if the student was pursuing healthcare. The organization provided similar scholarships in 2019, 2023, and 2024.

In addition to funding student scholarships, Methodist Medical Center has also been involved, through the Covenant Health System of which it is part, in Roane State Community College’s new Knox Regional Health Science Education and Simulation Center. The Covenant Health System donated the land for the new center in 2023.

Andy Spellman, who serves as the director of Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge Campus, said, "We are truly thankful for this continued partnership with Methodist Medical Center as it is vital that we have the necessary healthcare workforce in our region. Methodist Medical Center and Roane State are working together to remove financial barriers for students, so they have access to healthcare education across our communities."

For more information about Roane State Community College, visit the school’s website.