Strengthening Healthcare for Generations to Come

For more than three decades, the Rivers Health Foundation Scholarship Program has supported students pursuing careers in healthcare, helping build the next generation of compassionate professionals serving our region. Since the late 1980s, the Foundation has awarded more than $900,000 in scholarships to over 245 students committed to advancing healthcare in Mason County and surrounding communities.

In honor of the leadership and vision of Vitus Hartley Jr., the Foundation established the Vitus Hartley Jr. Scholarship in 2005. This one-time $4,000 scholarship supports students pursuing clinical healthcare careers with the hope that they will return to the area to provide quality care for local families and communities. Many recipients have gone on to make a lasting impact in regional healthcare, including Dr. Jessica Wilson, who now serves as Vice President of the Medical Staff at Rivers Health.

Today, the scholarship endowment has grown to more than $2 million, ensuring continued opportunities for future healthcare leaders. Gifts made to the scholarship fund are tax deductible and directly support students dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve.

To qualify for scholarship assistance, applicants must reside in Mason County, West Virginia, or Gallia or Meigs counties in Ohio; be a graduate of an accredited high school or hold a GED; and be accepted into or pursuing a clinical healthcare program at an accredited college or university in West Virginia or Ohio.