Susan Blackman expected to get the Torrance Memorial Hospital scholarship, but despite that, when she heard the news she cried.

“I cried for a long time. Going to school since 2001 and living off of savings it came in very, very handy. I cried for a very long time,” said Black man, respiratory major.

The only scholarship recipient focusing on respiratory care, and competing against 52 students from community colleges across Southern California, Blackman, Joseph Ruiz and Kimberly Johnston were each awarded $5,000 scholarships by Torrance Memorial Hospital.

“I was pretty sure that I would get the scholarship because of my high grade point average and because I was able to write a good essay that would express my ability to do a good job in this field,” Blackman said.

Blackman, a former waitress and book clerk, returned to school in 2001 to pursue a career in healthcare.

Funded by Las Amigas, a Torrance Memorial support group, and through fundraisers setup by the hospital, the scholarship looks for students interested in entering the health care field and the scholarship will continue into next year.

“Some of what we were looking for was a commitment to (the health care profession),” said Kathryn Joiner, liaison for community programs at Torrance Memorial Hospital.

We looked at past coursework and paid a lot of attention to letters of recommendation from counselors from the schools.”

After submitting her application, Blackman was told that she would receive a telephone call. The phone call would be for an interview in front of a panel of Torrance Memorial officials if she was one of the finalists.

“I was honestly looking forward to the interview process. They told us when we applied they would call, us by a certain day. When they didn’t call I didn’t think I would win,” Blackman said.

Or so she thought. But when they informed her that the interview process was only for borderline recipients, and she found out that had received the scholarship, she cried.

“It makes me feel very proud and pleased to learn that we’re able to help such fine young people in the health care program,” Joiner said.

With fees up from $11 last year and expected to peak at $24 within the next couple of years, the scholarship can be used to cover any expenses the students may experience.

Joiner said she believes that is one of the best parts of this scholarship.

“For many of them, it came at a good time. I think this is a great scholarship because there aren’t any strings attached on where they have to work, and what they have to do to further their careers,” Joiner said.

Applicants were expected to submit an essay on why they wanted to be part of the health care profession as well as two letters of recomendation.

After notifying Dr. Louis M. Sinopoli, RRT, RCP, EDd, program director, and professor Roy Mekaru, the two people wrote Blackman’s letters of recommendation for the scholarship..

“They felt very happy for me because of the entire scholarship process, I was the only respiratory recipient,” she said.

Kenneth Key, a nursing consultant who wrote Kimberly Johnston’s letter of recommendation, was also thrilled when Johnston came up to him and told him..

“I am just as happy as she is,” Key said.

Key, who has been a counselor for EC since 1989, has been helping troubled nursing majors ever since than.

He said that the most enjoyable part of his job is helping students like Johnston.

Key said he believes students should look to scholarships for some relief because studying isn’t easy.

“If students are really interested in getting paid for their academic pursuits, it is important that they put the effort and the necessary output to receive them,” Key said.

Keys believes that students think studying is just studying, rather than work.

“I think students don’t equate school with work and that is why a lot of scholarships go unused. People just don’t put out the effort.”.

Joiner said he believes that too often students look at odds and discredit themselves.

“I think if you meet the criteria, that you should make an effort to try,” she said.

Joiner encourages students to apply for any scholarship they meet the requirements to.

. “It seems to me if you look at the scholarship and meet the guidelines, you should follow through,” Joiner said.