Sutter Health Awards Nearly $1.1 Million in Scholarships

547 Students Can Now Attend College Despite California’s Pending $40 Million Deficit In Education Spending

SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 14, 2004 — More than 540 of California's hardworking, college-bound students will be able to pursue their educational dreams this fall with the help of Sutter Health, a family of not-for-profit hospitals and physician organizations serving more than 100 communities in Northern California. Sutter today awarded nearly $1.1 million in scholarships to 547 achieving students who are the children and grandchildren of employees across its network.

The Sutter Scholars program, which was established in 2003, annually awards educational grants to students who otherwise might not be able to attend college due to financial limitations, including rising student fees and the $40 million budget deficit impacting access to California's higher educational institutions.

"California has long held a promise that if you work hard and you're otherwise qualified, there will be a spot for you at the University of California of the California State University system," said Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. With California's 2004-2005 state budget still in legislative deliberations and with the expected $40 million education budget shortfall, Sutter Health is helping ensure more students will still have access to higher academic opportunities they've worked hard to achieve.

"Higher education is an investment strategy that we think is important in producing tomorrow's leaders," said Van R. Johnson, president and CEO of Sutter Health. "The cost of going to college is on the rise, and we need to help more students achieve the dream of a college education to become the next generation of doctors, nurses, researchers, scientists, and business professionals," he added.

According to recently released reports from the College Board (2003-2004), most students and their families can expect to pay, on average, from $231 to $1,114 more than in the previous year for tuition and fees, depending on the type of college.

This year, the Sutter Scholars program awarded tuition and other educational fee grants in varying amounts based on need and competitive review. The sums awarded were anywhere from $500 up to $4,000 per student, with the average being $1,800. The $1,058,250 total award in 2004 is double the amount given to achieving students in 2003 ($550,000).

One of the 2004 Sutter Scholar recipients, Jill Marie Caron, is a graduate student at California State University, Fresno and the daughter of a 16-year employee of Sutter Gould Medical Foundation in Modesto. "I am extremely proud of my daughter's accomplishments and to be a part of the Sutter Health family," said Mark Caron, father of the $4,000 scholar award recipient. "Jill is in her second year of her graduate studies at Fresno State where she is pursuing an advanced degree physical therapy. This scholarship will certainly help her achieve her ultimate career goal of providing rehabilitative, physical therapy services to the residents of Stanislaus County," he said.

Applications for the program's 2005-2006 academic year grants will be accepted once again in March 2005.

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Media Contact
Karen Garner
Communications Manager
916-286-8297
garnerk@sutterhealth.org

Questions about Eligibility or How to Apply?
Questions About Eligibility or How to Apply?
Sutter Scholars message line, 800-500-0114
Email: sutterscholars@sacregcf.org
All questions will be answered within two business days.