Awards doubled to $10,000 at Memphis event honoring outstanding minority students entering the health care field
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A ceremony honoring three recipients of a diversity scholarship offered by the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust was held Friday, Aug. 1, at BlueCross’ Memphis office. In a surprise to the winners, BlueCross doubled the scholarship amounts from $5,000 to $10,000.
Jessica Azor, a senior at Carson Newman University, Ashley Butler, a senior at Fisk University, and Mario Lopez-Rodriguez, a senior at the University of Memphis at Lambuth, were awarded the scholarships after completing a rigorous application process.
“We believe in diversity and inclusion within our company, and in the communities we serve,” said Calvin Anderson, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff. “So we’re proud to recognize the achievements of these amazing young people as we work to build a more inclusive health care workforce in Tennessee.”
The event marked the second year of BlueCross’ diversity scholarships, which are funded by the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust and administered in collaboration with the Memphis chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE).
The scholarships recognize outstanding achievements in community service, leadership and academics and are given to undergraduate students who wish to pursue careers in the health care field.
The awardees, along with their families, attended the ceremony, as did senior BlueCross leaders and representatives from NAHSE.
About BlueCross
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s mission is to provide its customers and communities with peace of mind through affordable solutions for health and healing, life and living. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based company is focused on reinventing the health plan for its 3 million members in Tennessee and across the country. Through its integrated health management approach, BlueCross provides patient-centric products and services that drive health improvement and positively impact health care quality and value. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.bcbst.com.