Eastern Shore Community College student Lucia Espitia has received the INOVA Fellow Scholarship.  A graduating member of the ESCC Medical Assisting Program this summer, Lucia has been accepted into the TCC Beazley School of Nursing and has already passed the national test to achieve the distinction of National Certified Medical Assistant. She is one of only 10 recipients of this scholarship honor in the state, receiving an award of up to $6,000 to support tuition, books, fees and other expenses related to their educational goals.
The core mission of this Fellows program is to help promising, second-year, full-time students who attend Northern Virginia, Germanna, Lord Fairfax and Eastern Shore Community Colleges pursue their academic goals and strengthen their leadership skills. In addition to receiving full tuition, the Fellows participate in a unique curriculum of activities designed to expand their community involvement and cultivate a strong foundation for a successful future.

Applicants must excel academically, exhibit exceptional leadership potential, participate in community service activities, and demonstrate financial need. The applicant must be a US citizen and attend one of the colleges in the areas served by INOVA Health.

Graduating from Arcadia High School in 2015, Lucia attended Salisbury University her first year of college, but didn’t find it a good fit.  She found inspiration from her mom who attended ESCC, obtained a Career Studies Certificate, and now is employed by the Accomack County Health Department for billing and coding.  She enrolled in the Medical Assisting Program and immediately started connecting with and excelling in the course. Instructor Beth Perry praises Lucia for taking a lead role in the class with a GPA of 3.53, but also in the important area of community projects and civic engagement.

Lucia embraces the opportunities presented by the INOVA honor, and also her experiences so far at ESCC.  Her recent clinicals have piqued an interest in working the ER.  She is quick to stress the importance of volunteering and taking on as many experiences as possible, citing the benefits of being exposed to many areas of healthcare and how much help it can be in determining where training may lead you.

Eastern Shore Community College has a celebrated nursing program including Medical Assisting, Practical Nursing, and a partnership with TCC’s Beazley School of Nursing RN Program.  For more information, please contact Peggy Bennett at 757-789-1772 or email mbennett@es.vccs.edu.