Because of a local family’s generosity, caring and desire to give back, many nurses at Cary Medical Center have been supported with financial assistance to help further their nursing education over the past 30 years. Members of the Reuben and Annette Cote family originally established the Family Memorial Scholarship program in memory of Annette because of the wonderful care that she received during her hospitalization at Cary in the mid-1980s. The scholarship has been awarded annually since the late 1980s to Cary Medical Center employees furthering their education in the nursing field, with the funds administered by the Jefferson Cary Foundation. As other members of the immediate family have passed, including siblings Freda “Sis” Cote Classy in 1999, Paul “Bert” Cote in 2005 and Alfred “Hap” Cote in 2008, the family has added to the scholarship and made it a family memorial.
“The Cote family has been very committed to providing the scholarship to a Cary Medical Center or Pines Health Services nurse continuing his/her education.The Jefferson Cary Foundation receives donations to support the scholarship fund from Cote family members all over the United States,” said Chelsey Anderson, JCF executive director. “This scholarship really helps make a difference for our nurses.”
“It’s always a hard decision for us because all of the applicants are so deserving. They were all great candidates,” noted Darylen Cote. “Our family feels the scholarship is a wonderful way to give back, and they are all so generous with supporting and keeping our scholarship funded. We are pleased that we could award another scholarship this year.”
Receiving this year’s Reuben & Annette Cote Family Memorial Scholarship award of $750 is Matthew McCormack, CMA, of Presque Isle. McCormack is a Northern Maine Community College graduate, and is continuing his education there for his RN associates degree. “I always wanted to be a nurse or nurse practitioner,” explained McCormack. “I plan to continue working at Pines Health Services or Cary Medical Center.”
Presenting McCormack with the Reuben and Annette Cote Family Memorial Scholarship Awards was Darylen Cote, wife of the late Alfred “Hap” Cote, and daughter-in-law of Reuben and Annette Cote; and Anderson, administrator for the scholarship fund.
