CANTON – One student each from Hermon-DeKalb Central School, Ogdensburg Free Academy, and Gouverneur Central School were honored by the Society of the United Helpers with Helen S. Randles Scholarships.

The $750 scholarships are funded through an endowment created by the late Ms. Randles, who established the scholarship more than 45 years ago to provide merit-based aid for students looking to enter the healthcare field.

One of this year’s recipients, Jaedyn Awan, is currently employed by United Helpers as a Direct Support Professional. Awan, who will graduate from Ogdensburg Free Academy, is the daughter of Colleen Ashley and Craig Awan. Awan will be attending SUNY Canton, where she is majoring in Health & Fitness Promotion with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She is hoping to one day be a school-based occupational therapist.

Zachary Platt will be graduating from Hermon-DeKalb Central School. He is planning to attend SUNY Brockport and will enroll in its Nursing program. Platt is the son of Tim and Sarah Platt. He is hoping to one day become an ER nurse.

Elizabeth Riutta will be graduating from Gouverneur Central School. She is also planning to attend SUNY Brockport and enroll in its Nursing program. Riutta is the daughter of Roger and Sarah Riutta. She is one day hoping to become a nurse practitioner.

United Helpers CEO Todd Amo told the winners they are the future of healthcare in the North Country. He also challenged them each to be leaders in the classroom and in the healthcare field.

“We’re counting on you,” he said. “I’m 52 and it won’t be long before I’m needing your services.”

Society of United Helpers Vice President Patti Wood chaired this year’s scholarship committee. She also challenged recipients to look for what patients and residents are giving and sharing, whether it’s a smile, a song, or a tidbit of useful knowledge.

“Health care is so much about giving, but I challenge you to think about what you are receiving,” she said. “Your patients will always give you something; sometimes you just have to look for it.”

She then relayed a story shared with her by an employee from United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care. Making the story even more impactful, at the center of it, is Wood’s own son, Tyke.

“We’re all familiar with burnout,” Wood started. “We’ve all been impacted by COVID and we all know the tremendous hit the healthcare field has taken.”

Fast forward to a conversation Wood had with an employee, who was feeling burnt out. The employee went to her supervisor to give her notice, but instead the supervisor told her about Tyke.

“We’ve got this young man coming in and we think you can help him,” the supervisor told the employee, who then agreed to stay on and see if the new resident could reinvigorate her passion for nursing.

“She told me, ‘He saved my life. I would go home at night after caring for him and always have a story. That kept me from going home and being depressed,’” Wood said. “Those stories were Tyke’s gift to her.”

The Helen S. Randles Scholarship is awarded each year to three students from St. Lawrence County, who are furthering their education and planning to enter the healthcare field. Ms. Randles, a long-time United Helpers volunteer, greatly valued education. It was her hope that recipients would one day return to become United Helpers employees.