By Karen Guin

Recognizing the value of an advanced degree in careers in health-care administration, the university's Health Services Administration Alumni Chapter has established a scholarship for master's degree students in health services administration. The chapter hopes to award the first scholarship in 2010.

Like many health-care professions, health services administration requires a high level of knowledge and skill to assume the responsibilities of the profession, which can include managing large budgets and large numbers of employees. Many consider a graduate degree in the field to be essential for career advancement.

The Health Services Administration Alumni Chapter Scholarship fund was created with contributions from officers and members of the chapter and faculty members from the program. The chapter has set a goal of raising $10,000 by March 2009 for the fund. The amount raised will determine the size and number of scholarships awarded.

"Scholarships assist students who otherwise might not be able to attend college or graduate school," said Aaron Liberman, chair of the Department of Health Management and Informatics. "This scholarship will serve as a source of encouragement for students in the health services administration program, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college."

The scholarship also pays tribute to the high quality of the master's degree program at UCF, said Kevin Lenhart, a 2001 graduate of the program, chair of the alumni chapter and health services director for the Lake County Sheriff's Office. "This scholarship is one way for our alumni to give back to the program and its students," he added. "It's a tradition we hope we'll be able to continue with support from the community, faculty and former students."

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