Oak Hill Hospital volunteers award five Hernando County scholarships

Oak Hill Hospital’s volunteers turned a scholarship ceremony into a direct investment in Hernando County students’ college plans, with five awards aimed at easing tuition pressure and opening paths into health care and other fields. At the May 21 event, the Oak Hill Hospital Volunteer Association handed out the scholarships as board members and scholarship committee members looked on, including President Loren Williams, Vice President Candace Rose, Secretary Michele Dion, Treasurer Neal Dion, Dennis Wade, Judy Clement Lee, Verna Runyan and Gary Ross. Oversized checks were presented for the ceremony, while the actual scholarship money was sent straight to the colleges.

Two of the awards carried $5,000 each and were named for Tony Mosca and Phyllis Chiswell, honoring two people whose volunteer records reflected the association’s own mission. Mosca was remembered as a Navy Vietnam veteran, businessman, volunteer firefighter and former county commissioner. Chiswell had put in 20,000 volunteer hours at Oak Hill Hospital after moving to Spring Hill, a level of service that made her name a natural fit for one of the association’s largest awards.

Among the students recognized, Kazel Vincent stood out for a plan that keeps her close to home while aiming high. She plans to study at Pasco-Hernando State College, pursue nursing and eventually become a nurse practitioner. Vincent also brought a record of service of her own, including work in the Allied Health program, blood drives and hurricane cleanup. Rosemary Sanchez was also among the recipients, though she was not able to attend in person. Sara Haehnel, who completed an associate degree while still in high school, is now in a speech pathology program at the University of South Florida.

The scholarships fit a broader pattern for the Oak Hill Hospital Volunteer Association, which has been described as a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on helping young people enter health care professions. The group awarded six scholarships in 2025, 15 scholarships of $1,000 each in 2019 and 24 scholarships of $1,000 each in 2018, showing a tradition that has shifted in size but kept the same local purpose.

That purpose matters because scholarships can help students pay for school without taking on more loan debt, and Pasco-Hernando State College urges students to apply for both college and outside scholarships. For Hernando County families, the association’s awards can mean the difference between delaying school and starting on time, with less financial strain and a clearer path into the workforce.