Wilson Community College and Wilson Medical Center have partnered to establish the Surgical Technology Scholarship Program, designed to support students pursuing an Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology (AAS in Surgical Technology). This scholarship provides financial assistance to eligible students in exchange for a work commitment at Wilson Medical Center upon graduation.

Scholarship Benefits

• $7,500.00 tuition coverage for the nursing program.
• Guaranteed employment at Wilson Medical Center (WMC) upon successful completion of the program, licensure, and meeting WMC’s employment procedures.
• Clinical training opportunities at WMC during the surgical technology program.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must:

1. Be enrolled or accepted into the Surgical Technology program at Wilson Community College.
2. Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in prerequisite and surgical technologist coursework.
3. Exhibit a commitment to serve Wilson County and advocate and advance patient care by evidence of completing 20 hours of volunteer work related to promoting health and wellness in Wilson County, before applying for the scholarship.
4. Commit to working at WMC for a minimum of two years upon obtaining the Surgical Technology degree and successfully completing WMC’s orientation process/program.
5. Successfully pass a background check and drug screening.
6. Have no record of disciplinary concerns with the college or health science programs. If an applicant is currently employed by Wilson Medical Center, they must be an employee in good standing.
7. Submit a personal statement outlining their commitment to Surgical Technology and community healthcare.
8. Provide two letters of recommendation, one from an academic instructor and one from a professional or community leader.

Ongoing Eligibility

To maintain the scholarship, recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, and the Dean of Health Sciences will provide semester updates to WMC regarding any student who has lost eligibility through program dismissal or any other eligibility violations.

Application Process

Deadline: September 1st, 2025

Required Documents:

• Completed application form
• Personal Statement - Upload Below
• Letters of Recommendation - Upload Below
• Evidence of Commitment to 20 hours of Volunteer Service - Upload Below

Work Commitment Agreement

Recipients agree to:

1. Work at WMC as an ST (surgical technologist) for a minimum of two years after obtaining credential and successfully completing WMC’s orientation process/program.
2. Accept a position at WMC based on open positions. Recipient will only be eligible for current open positions at the time of beginning employment at WMC.
3. Maintain good standing with satisfactory performance evaluations.
4. If the recipient does not fulfill the work commitment, they will repay the total scholarship amount.

Program Oversight and Administration

• A joint committee of hospital and college representatives will oversee the selection and administration of the scholarship. These representatives will meet annually to discuss the outcomes of the scholarship program and to recommend any needed updates.
• Regular check-ins and mentorship will be provided to scholarship recipients.
• Clinical training opportunities at WMC will be integrated into the surgical technology program to ease the transition to employment.

Conclusion

The partnership benefits both the students and the local healthcare system by addressing nursing shortages while providing financial support and career opportunities for aspiring surgical technologists.