Putnam Hospital Auxiliary Awards First Scholarships

Two North Salem High School seniors are the recipients of the Putnam Hospital Center Auxiliary’s inaugural college scholarships.

Hospital volunteers Sean Leuschner and Anna Mattamana each received $500 to go toward their educational pursuits, hospital officials said in a press release.

“I’m so happy, so enthused to get the award,” Leuschner, 18, said. “I’m just grateful that they recognized how much I love Putnam Hospital Center.”

Mattamana was equally grateful.

“It’s amazing” Mattamana, 18, said. “A perk to the experience of working here.”

Both have completed more than 100 hours of volunteer service at the hospital, officials said.

Both Leuschner and Mattamana are interested in working in healthcare. Leuschner said he is deciding between the State University of New York at Buffalo and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he plans to study nursing and possibly medicine.

Leuschner has volunteered at Putnam Hospital Center for two years in transport and now as a student intern in the Emergency Department.

Mattamana plans to enroll as a premed student at either Tulane or the State University of New York at Binghamton. She has volunteered at Putnam Hospital Center for three years both in transport and the gift shop.

The auxiliary plans to award scholarships each year to two college-bound students.

“We have always wanted to offer a scholarship to Junior Volunteers as a sign of our appreciation for the many hours of community service students provide to Putnam Hospital Center,” Michelle Piazza, director of volunteer and pastoral services, said in the prepared statement. “We have a very talented and dedicated group of junior volunteers. Anna and Sean are exceptional and we are very pleased to award our first scholarships to them.”

“I think it’s wonderful we started doing this,” auxiliary Co-President Rose McQuade added. “It’s for two lovely young people.”

The volunteer department is accepting applications for its summer volunteer program. For more information, contact Michelle Piazza at 845-279-5711 ext. 2453 or 4453 (TTY 1-800-421-1220).

Photo caption: Putnam Hospital Center Auxiliary Co-President Rose McQuade, from left, and hospital Director of Volunteer and Pastoral Services Michelle Piazza, present scholarship awards to North Salem High School seniors Anna Mattamana and Sean Leuschner/contributed