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Two high school seniors from LaPorte County have been awarded the Franciscan Health Michigan City Medical Staff Memorial Scholarships to support their future healthcare careers. Caloe Peretti, a senior at Tri-Township High School in Wanatah, and Naomi Williams, a senior at Michigan City High School, were chosen as the 2025 recipients by the Franciscan Health Michigan City Medical Staff Scholarship Committee.
Naomi Williams plans to attend the University of Indianapolis to study biology with the ambition of becoming an emergency medical technician. "I've always wanted to do it," Williams expressed. "My family is (the medical field) and helping people sounds fun."
Caloe Peretti will enroll at St. Mary's College of Notre Dame to pursue nursing. "I’ve always felt a passion for helping others," said Peretti. "This is a job where you're really making an impact."
The scholarships were established by the medical staff at Franciscan Health Michigan City in 2021 to honor past physicians who served in the community. The scholarships are funded by local physicians in partnership with the Franciscan Health Foundation and can be divided among recipients as determined by the committee.
Matthew Troy, MD, a general surgeon at Franciscan Health Michigan City and chairman of the Scholarship Committee, stated: "The goal of the scholarship was to encourage people from our county who are interested in pursuing higher education in service to others." He added that this marks their fourth group of recipients and mentioned staying connected with some past scholars, including one working in an emergency room.
The scholarships prioritize financial need and aim to assist students who are first-generation college attendees. Dr. Troy noted that they are consistently impressed by the quality of student applications received.
Contributions to support these scholarships can be made online through specific selections on donation platforms. Donors contributing $500 or more may honor a deceased physician with a nameplate on a memorial plaque displayed in the hospital's main hallway.
