Shayne Pond and Marjorie Dempster receive big checks from the Central Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary.

Shayne Pond and Marjorie Dempster receive big checks from the Central Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary.

Hospital honors volunteers, awards scholarships

Central Peninsula Hospital honored its many volunteers with a summer barbecue August 16 and the auxiliary presented two CPH employees with $2,500 scholarships to continue their health care education.

Sue Sanders is the CPH volunteer coordinator.

“Today was a day for the hospital to show how much they appreciate the help and work that our volunteers do here every day, they make coming here a pleasant experience as soon as you want in the door,” she said.

Volunteers and the CPH auxiliary raise funds throughout the year at the gift shop and by holding bazaars and book sales a couple times a year. Those funds are then reinvested in employee scholarships to continue their medical education. According to board member Will Darsey they try to award four $1,000 scholarships every year.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“We’ve been at it for many years and have returned a lot of satisfied students who continue to serve our community. This year we awarded $2,500 one-time scholarships as an exception to the rule but very deserving,” said Darsey.

Marjorie Dempster has worked as a phlebotomist in blood draw at CPH for almost three years.

“I’m just like a big mosquito, but please don’t swat it,” laughed Dempster. “I’m taking classes to become a medical lab scientist and hope to get hired downstairs here. Rather than just drawing the blood we actually run the tests on the samples and I’ve been able to do my clinicals down there and I’m enjoying it and am grateful for the opportunity.”

Receiving the other $2,500 scholarship was Shayne Pond, the director at CPH of the emergency department, OB unit and oncology division, who has been with CPH for 11 years.

“I’m proud to be part of this great organization and keep those departments going. My goal is to complete my Master’s degree so I can further contribute to the hospital here and help in its leadership,” said Pond.

Asked about how important the volunteers are to the hospital Pond said, “In my role here I get to see three different departments and the volunteers are integral in each one, helping to navigate our patients through the hospital, in oncology they help get them upstairs to their doctor’s appointments and in OB they help get people to and from the department and are there to see their loved ones, they help with the babies and with those who are having a tough time in the oncology area or infusion, they help patients get through the difficult times so they always a smiling face and willing to help out and are always around except at night and we miss them but everybody as to sleep at some point. They are a phenomenal asset to our community and hospital family. They create the environment that is here now and is part of the healing process.”

According to Darsey if you’d like to become a volunteer you can fill out an application at CPH and you will be trained for the particular area you choose to volunteer for.

“We can always use another volunteer,” he said.

More in News

Balloons fall on dozens of children armed with confetti poppers during the Ninth Annual Noon-Year’s Eve Party at the Soldotna Public Library on New Year’s Eve. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kids mark a colorful countdown to 2025

Soldotna library hosted ‘Noon-Year’s Eve’

Assembly President Peter Ribbens speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly to act on ordinances at Tuesday meeting

The legislation addresses public meeting comments, civil fine accrual, and a rezoning petition

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Updated: Troopers take into custody ‘person of interest’ in Cooper Landing burglaries

Troopers asked people in Cooper Landing to be vigilant and urged against picking up hitchhikers

The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is coming up fast, landing on March 31, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
PFD applications open for 2025

Residents can submit their applications online until midnight March 31

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Job Center is seen here in Kenai, Alaska, on April 15, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Minimum wage increases by $0.18

Another increase, to $13 per hour, is set for July 1

The Anchor River flows in the Anchor Point State Recreation Area on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Trout Unlimited to host presentation on steelhead findings from Anchor River weir

The event is set for 6 p.m. at the Goods on Tuesday, Jan. 7

Kristen Faulkner, who won two gold medals for cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympics, speaks to Andrew Elam during a meet and greet hosted by the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at the Cannery Lodge in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Make it or not’

Homer’s Kristen Faulkner returns to Kenai Peninsula months after claiming a pair of Olympic gold medals in cycling

A snowmachine rider takes advantage of 2 feet of fresh snow on a field down Murwood Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Snowmachine use barred in refuge, areas of Chugach National Forest

Inadequate snow cover cited as reason for the closure

A group of people sing “Silent Night” in the Elwell Fishing Lodge at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A night made brighter with song and light

Candlelight walk marks Christmas Eve

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in