Mount Nittany Health Honors Volunteers, Awards Scholarships

Mount Nittany Health honored the 621 volunteers who gave more than 60,000 hours of service in the past year at a recognition event on Wednesday.

‘Families come to us in times of joy, sorrow and the unknown,’ said Meredith Thompson, director of volunteer resources. ‘They quickly learn that the mere sight of a blue smock is one of comfort, compassion and understanding. Week after week, our volunteers come in providing selfless dedication, not knowing what the shift may bring. I know I speak for many when I say, thank you.’

Volunteers give their time and effort to a variety of patient-related and other services.

Two students were announced as teen volunteer scholarship recipients.

Crystal Dahm, a State College Area High School senior, first became a volunteer in June 2014 to gain exposure to working in a hospital environment and see what a career in medicine might be like. Currently a patient floor and Nittany Grill volunteer, she has logged 210 volunteer hours. Dahm plans to attend Boston College.

Katherine Kim, also a State High senior, has volunteered on patient floors and at the Nittany Grill since January 2013. Having recorded 329 volunteer hours, the experience spending time with patients helped Kim realize she wanted to pursue a career in medicine. She plans to attend Carnegie Mellon University.

To receive the scholarship award, students must be graduating from a local high school, have completed at least 200 hours of volunteer service with Mount Nittany Health, and plan to pursue a career in healthcare.