NEWMARKET – Friends of Lamprey Health Care awarded the first Annual Ann Hathaway Peters Scholarship to Sonya M. Spery. The $2,000 scholarship is awarded to a qualified student who plans to pursue a career in community health in the state of New Hampshire. The award is presented in honor of Ann Hathaway Peters, retired chief executive officer of Lamprey Health Care. In her 34 year tenure, Peters led Lamprey Health Care through exponential growth in services and major changes in the health care industry.

Spery, from Bedford, is a student at the University of New Hampshire in Manchester. She is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Health and is expected to graduate in 2018. Spery’s experience in public health comes with passion, knowledge and experience. She has experience working with patients in a hospice setting and has also served as a senior policy advisor to Congressman William Keating for five years. She part of this staff working on health care priorities. Spery noted, “I’ve learned that being a health care professional means working to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.”

“My ultimate goal is to become a leader in the field of community health management, in hospitals, community health centers, government or insurance,” Spery said.

The scholarship was presented by Peters, as well as Janet Hauschel, board member of Friends of Lamprey Health Care, Gregory White, chief executive officer, and Evalie Crosby, chief financial officer. Spery was honored by the award, stating “with your generous assistance, I will have a chance to focus more on my coursework and field study in this important final year of graduate school without having to compromise my education goals in order to meet my financial needs.”

Friends of Lamprey Health Care is a subsidiary of Lamprey Health Care, dedicated to supporting the charitable activities of Lamprey Health Care and its patients.

Lamprey Health Care is a nonprofit community health care organization with medical centers in Newmarket, Raymond and Nashua. The organization serves the Southern and Seacoast Areas of New Hampshire, and provides primary care and integrated behavioral health services to individuals of all ages and incomes, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information on Lamprey Health Care, please contact us at 659-2494 or visit our website at www.lampreyhealth.org.