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

Applicants must have been accepted at a two- or-four-year college, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 and demonstrate active involvement in school and community activities.

Interested students may contact their guidance counselors for more information or to obtain an application form. Applications must be submitted by April 12 to the human resources department located at Kent & Queen Anne`s Hospital in Chestertown.

The scholarship program was established to assist local students pursuing health care careers and to help increase the supply of qualified health care professionals.

The Chester River 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.

Kent & Queen Anne`s Hospital is a not-for-profit community hospital serving people in Kent and Queen Anne`s Counties. The acute care hospital`s medical staff is comprised of approximately 80 physicians. In 1997 Kent & Queen Anne`s Hospital became the first community hospital to affiliate with Johns Hopkins Medicine, a world-renowned teaching hospital and medical school.

Chester River Home Care & Hospice provides skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, hospice, home care aide, intravenous therapy and maternal/newborn services. Additionally, a personal care service provides trained staff to assist clients with the activities of daily living, enabling them to remain independent.

Magnolia Hall Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, located in Chestertown, is a 97-bed facility providing skilled, intermediate, assisted living, hospice, respite, and rehabilitation care.