Student volunteers receive memorial scholarship

Jefferson College of Health Sciences awarded the inaugural John Echternach Jr. Memorial Scholarships to Morgan Colomb and Brandon McKee, Bachelor of Science in nursing students, at the Boones Mill Fire Department in Boones Mill on July 23.

The scholarship was established in honor of John Echternach Jr., D.P.T., academic coordinator of Clinical Education and assistant professor in the JCHS Physical Therapist Assistant Program and a volunteer at the Boones Mill Fire Department.

In June 2012, during the severe storms that swept through the region, Echternach was fatally injured while responding to an emergency call as a volunteer for the fire department.

More than 40 individuals and organizations in the Roanoke area have donated to the scholarship in memory of Echternach’s dedication to and passion for teaching the health care leaders of tomorrow. It supports students at JCHS in any program who have volunteered for two or more years as an EMS provider or firefighter.

Both Morgan and Brandon, who volunteer with the fire department, worked with Echternach. The scholarship is set up to be awarded to one student per academic year, but Colomb and McKee both were selected as recipients because of their outstanding work ethic in improving the health and safety of the community.

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