Friends of St. Mary's Hospital in Streator is accepting applications for the Chad Scoles Memorial Scholarship. A scholarship of up to $1,000 per calendar year is available to students seeking training in health care such as nursing, radiology or respiratory therapy.

Applicants must reside within a 30-mile radius of St. Mary's. They also should be accepted into or currently enrolled in a health care professional sequence and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better.

The scholarship was established in memory of Chad Scoles, son of Dick Scoles, a long-term St. Mary's Hospital employee, and his wife Sally. Chad passed away in 2004 at the age of 21. Chad was a graduate of St. Paul School in Odell and Dwight Township High School. The scholarship fund was created by two of St. Mary's physicians, Dr. William Sullivan and Dr. Ted Patras.

Bryan Anderson, the 2008 recipient from Streator, states "As America comes closer to implementing universal healthcare and the Baby Boom Generation nears retirement age, the demands on the healthcare profession are going to become even greater. More medical professionals are going to be needed in order to offset some of these demands. As a second year medical student and someone who benefited from the Chad Scoles Scholarship, it is exciting to know that I will be among the many that will be there to answer this call."

For more information or to obtain an application, call 815-672-4535. All required scholarship materials must be received by April 16 in order to be considered for the 2010 fall term.

Donations to the Chad Scoles scholarship fund are accepted. For information on making a donation, call 815-673-4535.