Baylee Williams knows that a career in healthcare will likely bring long hours and hard work, but that’s OK with her. She’s following her dream. It’s a dream that was inspired by her mother, Tracey Williams, who is the administrative director of Women’s Services at Cox Medical Center Branson.
“When I was growing up, I remember my mom working long hours, going to school to become a Family Nurse Practioner and raising four kids,” Baylee Williams said.
She recalls all the sacrifices her mom made to be the best for patients. Baylee Williams has seen her mom recognized numerous times for the lives she has impacted, how she’s helped her patients overcome drug addiction and become amazing moms.
“She is the type of person that each of her patients will remember and I hope to make such a difference in my patients’ lives that they will remember me,” Baylee Williams said. “Healthcare is not an easy career field but if you strive to make a difference in people’s lives, then it is perfect for you.”
When Baylee Williams enters Cox College’s nursing program this fall, she will do so with the help of a Skaggs Foundation. Williams is one of 23 students being awarded a fall 2023 scholarship from the foundation.
“Receiving this scholarship has motivated me to give my education my full effort in order to represent the honor and hard work of receiving this award and I deeply appreciate being a chosen candidate,” she said.
In addition to awarding 23 fall scholarships for a total of $15,000, the foundation has also awarded eight summer scholarships, with a total award amount of $8,000.
Summer scholarship recipients are: Brooklynn Box, Rafe Dillard, Clarissa Fogelquist, Susanne Hill, Kristofor Kranjec, Collette Lavoi, Lauren Garrison and Amanda Wilcox. Fall scholarship recipients include: Hayley Adkins, Elizabeth Boldman, Brooklynn Box, Reagan Culver, Rafe Dillard, Angel Dowdy, Ellie Dunagan, William Foster, Lauren Garrison, Jared Gott, Susanne Hill, Kollin Kolb, Kristofor Kranjec, Collette Lavoi, Molly Meadows, Quinn Roberts, Riley Sadler, Maria Snowden, Abby Swofford, Quinn Swofford, Amanda Wilcox, Baylee Williams and Madison Wood.
Since inception in 2002, Skaggs Foundation has awarded $496,700 in scholarships to students pursuing or advancing careers in healthcare.
To be eligible, applicants must reside in Taney or Stone counties, or Boone County, Ark., be an employee of Cox Medical Center Branson or the family member of a Cox Medical Center Branson employee. To learn more about Skaggs Foundation’s scholarship program or to apply, visit our scholarships page.
