The board of directors of the Foundation of Collier County Medical Society (CCMS) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2024 Foundation Healthcare Scholarship awards: Julianna Gregory, Sophie Tillotson, Mildred Hinojosa, Reese Davids, and Emma Mastro. Each student will receive a scholarship ranging from $2,500 to $6,500.
The final tally of 2024 scholarship awards given by the Foundation is $37,500, which also includes the $15,000 award given to Mariela Vega, recipient of the Foundation’s 2024 Dr. William and Nancy Lascheid Memorial Scholarship for Medical Students, announced in June. The Foundation has awarded over a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships since 2013.
The Foundation of CCMS healthcare scholarships are for students who are Florida residents enrolled or accepted into a healthcare degree program, with awards based on need, academic performance, and community involvement.
“The Foundation is proud to recognize five exemplary healthcare students with this highly competitive annual scholarship,” remarked Dr. Rolando Rivera, Chair of the Foundation. “Their promising futures are supported through the unwavering commitment of our donors and sponsors, who are dedicated to developing the next generation of healthcare leaders.”
Julianna Gregory is a Naples High School graduate and medical student at Florida State University College of Medicine. “As a previous employee and volunteer at the Neighborhood Health Clinic, I’ve seen the impact of our volunteer community physicians. I am excited to continue this legacy of community first by working to become a physician committed to serving patients from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds.”
Sophie Tillotson graduated from Barron Collier High School and is a medical student at University of Florida College of Medicine. “With this assistance, I am even more motivated to pursue my goal of providing compassionate and comprehensive care to my community. I am committed to giving back and making a positive impact on the lives of those in need, and this scholarship is a crucial step in that journey.”
Mildred Hinojosa is an Immokalee High School graduate and studying clinical laboratory science at Florida Gulf Coast University. “This scholarship will ease my financial responsibilities and allow me to focus on my academic studies without stress. Thank you for supporting my educational journey and allowing me to be another Collier County student in the medical field.”
Reese Davids is a graduate of Lemon Bay High School in Englewood and a student at Florida Gulf Coast University, School of Nursing. “This generous support fuels my motivation to excel academically and professionally, knowing that I have the backing of those who believe in my potential. I am deeply thankful for the chance it provides to follow my dreams of becoming a nurse practitioner.”
Emma Mastro is a Gulf Coast High School graduate and medical student at UMass Chan Medical School. “I am honored to be trusted with such a notable scholarship. My CCMS Alliance scholarship in 2019 set me up on the right track for getting admitted to medical school, so it’s extremely rewarding to know that I have now achieved the goals they helped uplift me for.”
The Foundation’s signature fundraiser, the Docs & Duffers Golf Tournament on October 5, 2024 will help raise funds for its scholarship program and local healthcare programs in need. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization launched by the Collier County Medical Society in 2012, with the mission to provide support and leadership to programs that address access to healthcare and promote health education. More information on supporting the Foundation and its scholarships is available at ccmsonline.org/foundation.