Hagerstown $1,000 scholarship honors family's community service

Mike Emery, Richmond Palladium-Item
·2 min read
Reid Health Vice President Jason Troutwine (left) and Director of EMS, Forensics, and Trauma Services Ryan Williams (right) presented Hagerstown senior Hannah Tracy (center) with the initial Culberson Family & Reid Health Scholarship.
Reid Health Vice President Jason Troutwine (left) and Director of EMS, Forensics, and Trauma Services Ryan Williams (right) presented Hagerstown senior Hannah Tracy (center) with the initial Culberson Family & Reid Health Scholarship.

HAGERSTOWN, Ind. — A new scholarship honors a family's five decades of community service.

Hagerstown High School's Hannah Tracy was presented with the initial Culberson Family & Reid Health Scholarship during the school's recent Honors Program. The scholarship is $1,000 for one year presented to a Hagerstown student intending to seek a degree or certificate in healthcare, emergency services or mortuary science, according to a press release.

Tracy, who will be a first-generation college student, plans to attend Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, then become a pediatric nurse practitioner. She's a member of the National Honor Society, served in student government, was a student-athlete and finished near the top of her class academically.

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An internship showed Tracy she can make a difference in others' lives.

"My mom was in the nursing field," Tracy said in the release. "When I was able to job shadow at a pediatric office during high school, I just fell in love with it."

The scholarship honors the family that operated Culberson Ambulance Service for more than 50 years. Owner Rick Culberson recently retired, and EMS service transitioned to Reid Health EMS at the beginning of this year.

"This scholarship is a celebration of the legacy of Rick and his family," said Craig Kinyon, Reid's CEO and president. "What better way to honor their many years of service than to help young people follow in their footsteps by pursuing careers in healthcare, particularly as nurses and EMTs."

Reid officials worked with the Wayne County Foundation to establish the endowed scholarship and the family was advised of the scholarship.

"We are pleased to play a small role in honoring the Culberson family," said Rebecca Gilliam, executive director of the Wayne County Foundation. "The scholarship will have a long-term impact in Wayne County by supporting Hagerstown students, like Hannah, with their career goals."

Thrift Shop awards

HAGERSTOWN, Ind. — The Thrift Shop of Hagerstown awarded vocational or technical scholarships to five Hagerstown graduating seniors.

The recipients are Joseph Ronald Auker, Hailey Marie Callahan, Megan Grace Fritts, Ryan William Hill and Haven Marie Ragen. Lauren Ann Retherford was awarded the Piccola Cain special scholarship.

The $7,000 total scholarship money comes from profits of the Hagerstown Thrift Shop, a nonprofit selling gently used clothing and household items. It's located at 449 E. Main St.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Hagerstown $1,000 scholarship honors family's community service