The Lenoir Memorial Foundation presented the first Jamie C. Fields Memorial Scholarship to Tracy Baker, an employee of Lenoir Memorial Hospital.Gary Black, LMH president, and Diane White Reardon, mother of Jamie Fields, made the presentation. Reardon is the LMH Community Relations coordinator.
The scholarship is in memory of Jamie Chris Fields, who died in an automobile accident June 23, 2004. At the time, Fields was working as a pharmacy technician at LMH and attending Lenoir Community College to earn her degree in nursing.
“Jamie was a dedicated employee who cared about our patients and was excited about a nursing career,†said Dale Hardy, director of Pharmacy at LMH. “She was always willing to assist others and helped to foster a positive attitude of teamwork within our pharmacy department.â€
Fields was recognized as the “Pharmacy Employee of the Quarter†in October 2001. “This scholarship is an excellent way to honor the memory of Jamie and help someone enter the field of nursing,†Hardy said.
The scholarship was established by the foundation in July 2002 through contributions from family, friends and colleagues. It provides financial assistance to an employee or the son/daughter of one.
The recipient must be actively enrolled in a college or community college program and seeking a degree in nursing. Funds supplement the costs of tuition, books and other supplies.
Among the list of criteria, recipients must demonstrate a high standard of performance in the nursing program, evidenced by transcripts and written references from instructors and/or employees.
Baker has been employed at the hospital since October 1997. She began her tenure on the surgery floor before transferring to the Progressive Care Unit, where she is a nursing assistant/monitor. When her school schedule allows, she also works part-time in the Emergency Department.
Baker earned her Basic and Intermediate EMT and Paramedic certifications while continuing to combine work and school.
“In my endeavor to get my RN, it gives me great pride, and is such an honor, to be the first one to receive this award,†said Baker. “I knew of Jamie’s dream to get her degree in the healthcare field.â€
After graduation in May 2007, Baker plans to continue her education to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing while continuing to work full-time at LMH.
Baker is a single mom with four sons: Trey, 19, a sophomore at East Carolina University; Eric, 17, Brian, 15, and Brandon, 13 — all of whom attend North Lenoir High School. Baker’s mother, Dee Parker, works in Patient Registration at LMH.
Contributions to the Jamie C. Fields Memorial Scholarship can be made through the Lenoir Memorial Foundation, 100 Airport Road, Kinston, NC 28504.
Source: www.kinston.com
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