Genesis Healthcare, a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center serving the Pee Dee and Colleton county areas of South Carolina, is thrilled to announce their partnership with the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie. Joining forces to improve the health of their communities and enrich the lives of those who surround them, this partnership has hit the ground running.
In partnership with USC Salkehatchie, Genesis Healthcare is pleased to announce the first recipient of the Genesis Healthcare Scholarship for pre-nursing and nursing students, Kayla Robertson. A mother of two boys, ages 7 and 12, Kayla has worked in the healthcare field for the last 11 years as a certified pharmacy technician. Inspired by the care her father received while facing health problems of his own, Kayla decided to embark on a new educational journey that would allow her to move beyond the retail environment and make a profound difference in her community by pursuing a nursing career.
“The nursing profession needs more compassionate, driven hands to care for others in our community. I enjoy helping others and cannot wait to make a difference,” Kayla said.
With the program’s 6-year, 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate coupled with the close proximity to her home and family, USC Salkehatchie was the perfect fit for Kayla. Through their dedicated staff and incredible academic opportunities, Kayla can receive the best possible training without leaving her community.
“I am aware that nursing school is very demanding and challenging, but I am up for the challenge,” Kayla said.
As an organization centered around community enrichment, Genesis continuously strives for ways to make a meaningful impact. This scholarship, awarded August 3, 2021, provided funds in September 2021 to be used for the 2021-2022 academic year. Additional funds will be forthcoming in January of 2022 for the same purpose of serving these students. The funds are intended for spendable scholarship awards and will be distributed in full each academic year in order to further educational excellence and foster a community in which everyone has the opportunity to grow and give back.
Genesis is honored to watch Kayla grow both personally and professionally through USC Salkehatchie’s nursing program. Helping our community is at the very core of what we do at Genesis, and we are fortunate enough to help Kayla achieve her academic goals and further this mission.
For more information about the Genesis Healthcare Scholarship and the nursing program at USC Salkehatchie visit uscsalkehatchie.sc.edu.
Pictured: Howard Nettles, Genesis Healthcare Director of Community Outreach and Recruiting; Kayla Robertson, scholarship recipient; and April Cone, DNP, MSN, RN Clinical Assistant Professor/Nursing Academic Program Manager, USC Beaufort/USC Salkehatchie