Obici Healthcare Foundation Career Pathways Scholarship
The Obici Healthcare Foundation Career Pathways Scholarship supports local students who aspire to careers in healthcare within Western Tidewater. This includes Suffolk, Franklin, Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, Sussex County, Surry County, and Gates County (NC). The program serves both graduating high school seniors and current or prospective students at Paul D. Camp Community College.
Scholarships for High School Seniors
The Obici Healthcare Foundation Career Pathways Scholarship is awarded each spring to three new students graduating high school. This is a renewable scholarship for $10,000 per year (i.e., $5,000 per semester), for up to four years (eight semesters) total for undergraduate study.
To be eligible for this scholarship, the applicant must:
- Be a current resident (or a dependent of a current resident) of Suffolk, Franklin, Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, Sussex County, Surry County, or Gates County, NC.
- Be graduating high school (this can include home school).
- Plan to enroll full-time at an accredited college or university in the fall to pursue a healthcare-related field of study. Eligible fields of study may include medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacology, emergency medical services, nutrition, radiology, and phlebotomy. Additional healthcare professions and fields of study may also be approved. This scholarship is intended for students who plan to provide direct patient care; it is not intended for students who plan a career in research, education, or healthcare administration.
- Be committed to practicing healthcare in Suffolk or Western Tidewater upon the completion of their education.
Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria:
- The student’s record of community service,
- The student’s commitment to a career path in the healthcare professions, and
- The student’s commitment to stay in (or return to) Suffolk or Western Tidewater to practice healthcare.
Graduating high school seniors can apply for this scholarship via the Suffolk Foundation’s common scholarship application, which opens each year in February and is due each year in March. For more information, including the deadlines for the current year and the link to apply, please visit the Suffolk Foundation’s main scholarship page.
Recipients of the Obici Healthcare Foundation Career Pathways Scholarship are eligible to renew the scholarship for up to three additional years of undergraduate study, so long as the student:
- Remains full-time, as defined by the college/university that the student attends.
- Submits a renewal application including a transcript by the published deadline, demonstrating full-time enrollment, continued commitment to practicing healthcare in the Western Tidewater, and a GPA of 2.7 or better.
- Continues to have a declared major in a healthcare related field of study.
Obici Healthcare Foundation Scholars are supported with funding not only for their education, but also for career development. During each year of school, students are eligible to receive up to $1,000 annually toward leadership and career development opportunities, which students may identify for their own individualized career goals and educational needs, subject to the Obici Healthcare Foundation’s approval. This can include extracurricular learning opportunities, fellowship or conference opportunities, etc. These grants may also be used as stipends for students to pursue a volunteer or unpaid internship opportunity. Scholars should contact Kelvin Turner at the Obici Healthcare Foundation (757-539-8810) for more information.
Recipients of the undergraduate scholarship may also be invited to apply for additional scholarship funding for up to four years of post-graduate study, which could include medical or other graduate school. Post-graduate funding will be based on the student’s academic performance as an undergraduate (i.e., GPA of 2.7 or better), his/her intended field of study as a graduate student, and his/her commitment to return to Suffolk and/or Western Tidewater to practice healthcare upon the completion of his/her education.
Application, Deadline, and Submission Instructions
The Obici Healthcare Career Pathways Scholarship utilizes the Suffolk Foundation’s common scholarship application form, which opens online each year in February and has a deadline each year in March. For more information, see our scholarship information page, or contact the Foundation staff at office@suffolkfoundation.
Community College Scholarships
In 2026, the Obici Healthcare Foundation is also funding 12 Career Pathway Scholarships through Paul D. Camp Community College. Six scholarships of $2,000 each will be awarded to students in the curriculum program who plan to pursue a career in healthcare. Six scholarships of $1,333 each will be awarded to students in the “Fast Track” healthcare program. Please contact the PDCCC Financial Aid office (757-569-6711 or financialaid@pdc.edu) if interested in applying for one of these scholarships.
Awardees
2025 High School Recipients:
Lailani Hart, Smithfield High School
Kevin Nguyen, Southampton Academy
Abby Rice, Isle of Wight Academy
2024 High School Recipients:
Kate Holland, Isle of Wight Academy
Jacy Keith, Gates County Senior High School
Taylor Grace Legg, Gates County Senior High School