Inspira Awards Scholarships to Five Vineland High School Graduates

From left: Debrah Hickman, Parent Linking Program coordinator; Elizabeth Sheridan, chief operating officer of Inspira Medical Centers Elmer and Vineland; scholarship recipients Maricruz Salazar, Elinette Muniz and Tyarra Broughton; Kim Friddell, executive director of Inspira IMPACT; and Taaliba Bentley-Fonville, IMPACT School Social Worker. Not pictured are scholarship recipients Destiny Maldonado and Brianna Munyon.

Five Vineland High School graduates, who participated in the Parent Linking Program, have been awarded full scholarships for the Certified Nursing Assistant Program at the Cumberland County Technical Education Center. Since 1998, the Parent Linking Program has provided a variety of services for pregnant and parenting teens at the high school.

Inspira Health funds the scholarships, which cover coursework, uniforms, books and exam fees.
“These students have worked very hard, and overcome a number of challenges,” said Elizabeth Sheridan, chief operating officer, Inspira Medical Centers Elmer and Vineland. “All of them are eager to further their education and we are pleased to provide these scholarships which will help them prepare for careers in the health care field.”

Since 1998, Inspira’s IMPACT Program, in partnership with the Vineland Board of Education, has been serving Vineland High School students who are pregnant or parenting. This innovative program provides child care as well as daily classes on parenting, child development, life skills, safe dates and health- related issues.

Funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, the program aims to eliminate repeat pregnancies, to increase high school graduation rates and to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect.

For more information about Inspira Health, please visit www.InspiraHealthNetwork.org or call 1-800-INSPIRA.