Richard Shoge Wins Health Care Scholarship

Richard Shoge, of Chestertown, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the Chester River Health System to pursue a career in the health care field. He will enter the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in September to major in biology with the goal of a career in sports medicine.

The interest he developed in the human body in high school biology class, coupled with his involvement in athletics, has resulted in a strong curiosity about the treatment of sports injuries and how athletes are able to quickly return to playing following serious injury. Shoge hopes to use his education to not only treat and rehabilitate those injured but to use research to prevent injuries from occurring. He notes, “I also intend to help athletes make the right choices in their career after such injuries take place.”

As a student at Kent County High School he received several academic achievements awards, was a National Honor Society member, was named to the high honor roll for four years, was named a Maryland Scholar Athlete and received honorable mention as a Maryland Distinguished Scholar. In the sports arena he was a member of the swim, soccer and track and field teams and was named Most Valuable Player for the soccer teams in 1996 and 1999. He was a two-time captain of the school’s “It’s Academic” team, treasurer of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Interact club.

The Chester River Health System offers three $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors planning careers in the health care field. One scholarship is given to a graduate of Kent County High School, one to a Queen Anne County High School graduate and one to a Kent Island High School graduate.

The scholarship program was originally established by Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital’s board of directors to assist local students pursuing health care careers and to help increase the supply of qualified health care professionals. Awards of $500 have been made to one student at each high school in the two counties for nine years. With the creation of the Chester River Health System and the building of the school in Kent Island, the decision was made to expand and increase the program.

The local health system was created by the Board of Directors of Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital in 1997 and became operational in January 1998. It includes the Hospital, Chester River Home Care & Hospice and Magnolia Hall Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. The purpose of CRHS is to provide for the health care of the community through a network of community-based services.

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