Scholarship

About Scholarship

WAMMC has a long history of supporting quality nursing at Morristown Medical Center. Early on, the Association helped staff the hospital with nurses and assisted with their housing and uniforms. In 1957, this interest evolved into a formal Scholarship Program, funded entirely by private donations. At that time, one scholarship of $500 would pay tuition costs for the entire three-year program.

Since its inception, the Scholarship Program has supported the staff at Morristown Medical Center by awarding scholarships to qualified hospital employees involved indirect patient care and pursuing careers in the health care field.

As tuition costs rose and recipient financial needs increased, generous donations made annually by WAMMC members, continued to underwrite the program. However, the early 1990s brought an economic downturn, which slowed the brisk pace of donations to the Scholarship Program and necessitated a new approach to ensure the program's future.

A Scholarship Trust Fund was established in 1995, with all scholarship contributions directly benefiting the fund. Presently, the Scholarship Committee spends only the interest generated annually by the fund. In this way, the invested principal remains intact, securing both the fund’s future and the Scholarship Program's mission. Additional annual funds are supported by the operating budget of WAMMC.

Since 1995, the steady growth of the fund has allowed WAMMC to increase both the number of scholarships offered and the amount of funding awarded. For example, since 2007 WAMMC increased the amount awarded from $10,000 to $50,000 in 2023. WAMMC largely attributes the steady growth of this program to the hard work of successful fundraising and the generous donations of WAMMC members.

Quotes from our Scholarship Recipients

“Thank you for providing me with this opportunity to be a recipient of this scholarship and assisting me further with meeting my academic and professional goals."

"I am honored to receive this scholarship. I also am humbled by the WAMMC commitment to support higher education."

"I am absolutely honored to have been selected."

"Thank you so much for selecting me to receive the WAMMC’s Scholarship. It will make such a difference in my pursuit of advancing my career in healthcare and I am so appreciative. It is amazing how WAMMC is able to support so many employees in their endeavors."

"Thank you so much! I am so happy to hear and truly thankful for this scholarship to continue my education."

“Thank you so much for honoring me and choosing me as a scholarship recipient. This helps me tremendously in my education.”

“Thank you for everything, this is incredible news and I appreciate the honor of being selected.”

“Thank you so much! I am so honored to be selected. It makes such a huge difference.”

WAMMC AWARDS 25 SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2024

Each year WAMMC Scholarships are awarded to outstanding Morristown Medical Center employees to help further their continued education, development and leadership skills in the hospital and healthcare field. In 2024 our Scholarship Awards Committee awarded $50,000 in scholarships to a total of 25 employees. Two of the 25 recipients were supported by donations made from the Cromwell Olive Twig.

We are grateful to all of our donors for their generous contributions to this program, enabling us to continue our Scholarship Program to assist hospital employees in attaining their advanced healthcare-related educations, which is critical to providing expert care for our patients.

Congratulations to all of the WAMMC 2024 Scholarship Awards Program recipients listed below.

Layla Assad, RN, Electrophysiology Department
Susan Boyle, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Department
Christine Ciprich, Manager, Cardiac Research, Gagnon 1/Davino 1
Marissa Compano, RN, Emergency Department
Samantha Cook, RN, Emergency Department
Anna Cooke, RN, Gagnon A
Hyrie Cosaj, RN, SICU/MICU
Heather DiBlase, Assistant Nurse Manager, Kahn 1
Kelsey George, RN, Kahn 1
Alexandra Germani, Assistant Nurse Manager, Emergency Department
Taban Jaaf, RN, Gagnon A
Beth Johnson, Assistant Nurse Manager, Kahn 3
Donnette Jones, Nursing Assistant, Simon 3
Tara Kinney, RN, Cardiac Access floor D
Caitlin Lietz, RN, Women’s Cancer Center
Megan Lucas, RN, PICU
Kelsey Manahan, RN, PICU
Ruben Millan, Nurse Manager, Deskovick 5
Kristi Mobus, Emergency Department Coordinator, Emergency Department
Nicoletta Quitadamo, RN, Emergency Department
Mollie Rosenkrantz, Nurse Educator, ICU/MICU
Carol Santana, RN, Gagnon D
Amour Joy Villamor, Inpatient Diabetes Educator, Adult Diabetes Education Center
Brittany Vomero, RN, Pediatric Emergency Department
Danielle Walker, RN, CVICU/CPACU

Scholarship Application

What are we looking for? The committee is in search of MMC employees with a proven employment record. Candidates typically possess high-ranking employee evaluations and are often described as, "Among the best in the department.” The candidates are often leaders in their field as members of honorary societies, as hospital committee chairs, or as participants in department studies. It is not unusual for our scholars to be as actively engaged in their local community, as they are in the workplace.

For further information, please send email to wammcscholar@gmail.com

2024 Scholarship Profiles

LAYLA ASSAD

Layla Assad, RN, BSN, most recently has worked in EP Lab for the past 9 yrs. of her 30 yrs. at MMC. She is a strong patient advocate, always puts her patients first and is willing to speak with physicians if she has any concerns pertaining to her patients. Layla has a vast amount of knowledge and experience and is quick to respond during an emergency.

Layla has received the RNPACT award. She is a member of AACN and Sigma Theta Tau and Gamma Nu.

Layla is attending Seton Hall University for PMHNP master’s degree with plans to graduate May 2026 and to work with children and adolescents as Nurse Practitioner.