McGaw Scholarship recipient — Jessica Vicente, front, a senior in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Health Care Management program from is the recipient of a 2019 Foster G. McGaw Scholarship from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). With Vicente from left, are Sandra Collins, Health Care Management program director; Bart Millstead, SIH senior vice president and chief operating officer, Andy Wang, dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts and Scott Collins, director of the School of Allied Health. (Photo by Russell Bailey)
April 30, 2019
Vicente earns McGaw health administration scholarship
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Jessica Vicente, a senior in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Health Care Management program, is the recipient of a 2019 Foster G. McGaw Scholarship from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA).
The Foster G. McGaw Scholarship provides financial support to undergraduate and graduate students in health administration. Since the program was established in 1975, more than 900 scholarships have been awarded. She is the third SIU student to win the scholarship. Sarah Hepper earned the award in 2018; Kendall Cole earned the award in 2017.
Endowed scholarship honors Foster G. McGaw, founder of the American Hospital Supply Corp.
AUPHA states that McGaw recognized the importance of health administration education and the organization’s contributions. The fund supports the education of outstanding health management students and is awarded annually to all AUPHA full member programs.
“Receiving the McGaw award is a significant accomplishment for Ms. Vicente as it showcases her academic abilities and leadership potential,” said Sandra K. Collins professor and Health Care Management program director. “Only a few students in the nation will receive such an honor and we are proud that Jessica is one of them.”
Knew she wanted to be in the healthcare field
Vicente said she is very grateful to have received the scholarship and happy that she was considered by the faculty for the award. Vicente knew she wanted to be involved with healthcare but not directly with clinical care.
Vicente will participate in commencement exercises with the College of Applied Sciences and Arts at the SIU Arena on May 11 but will complete her degree requirements in August. She is involved with the Student Healthcare Management Association, a registered student organization, on campus and works for Southern Illinois Healthcare.
Vicente is the daughter of Rosalva and Miguel Vicente and a 2014 graduate from Carbondale Community High School. She and her husband, Andres Melchor-Vertiz and daughter, Olivia, live in Carbondale.