The Elk Regional Health System Foundation has awarded the Elk County Diabetes Scholarship to Erica Sorg, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. She plans to acquire licensure as a Registered Nurse.“Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted a career where I could help people,” Miss Sorg wrote in her application essay. “Now, I know exactly which career path I am going to take – and that is becoming a Registered Nurse. Nurses help heal the sick and wounded and to me, that would be rewarding. I hope to make a difference in health care one day by providing the best quality of care that I possibly could.”
Miss Sorg is a graduate of the St. Marys Area High School. She was a two-year member of the school’s National Honor Society chapter and spent three years as the captain of the varsity softball team. She was also an active member of the school’s Outdoor Club.
As a volunteer, Miss Sorg participated in Project Gifts for Elk County, the Kersey Park cleanup. She also volunteered through her church.
In her application essay, Miss Sorg said she hopes to use her education to “educate the public and make people more aware of diseases and how they are spread.”
“Not only is educating the public important, but [so is] providing compassion, empathy, and emotional support to people,” she wrote. “When people are sick or hurt, it’s very important that they have others around them giving the care and attention they need.”
The $500 Elk County Diabetes Scholarship is a result of a generous donation from the Elk County Diabetes Group to the Elk Regional Health System Foundation.
It is the goal of the Health System Foundation that the scholarship fund continues the vision of the Elk County Diabetes Group through the awarding of scholarships that provide opportunities for individuals interested in a field that deals with diabetes, such as diabetic educators, or a nursing career.
Miss Sorg is the daughter of Jonathan Sorg and Karen Strugala of St. Marys.
Photo: From left are Sam MacDonald, Elk Regional’s Director of Business and Fund Development; Erica Sorg, the recipient of the 2012 Elk County Diabetes Scholarship; and Gregory P. Bauer, the President and CEO of Elk Regional Health System.
