Ring Scholarship Supports the Pipeline of Training Laboratory Professionals

Getting an education is essential for any laboratory professional. However, depending on numerous factors such as location, degree type, and availability of loans, a laboratory science education may not come cheaply, pushing students to seek creative ways to afford their education. 

Enter Dr. Alvin Ring, the esteemed pathologist who established the Dr. Alvin Ring Empowerment Scholarship for Laboratory Professionals (Ring Scholarship) through the ASCP Foundation to help address the medical laboratory workforce shortage. In addition to Dr. Ring’s generous donation of $100,000 to the ASCP Foundation, ASCP has also received funds for this scholarship directly from grant funding, as well as through a public donation campaign. This scholarship specifically looks to recruit students from medically underserved and/or rural communities who are actively entering or expanding their laboratory science training. 

In its inaugural year, the Ring Scholarship awarded scholarships for tuition, needs-based expenses, and certification examination costs to 14 laboratory science students, offsetting costs for their higher education. Two scholars are pursuing histotechnology degrees, four students are pursuing medical laboratory technology degrees, and eight students are pursuing medical laboratory science degrees. One hundred and thirty-five applications were received, with seventy-three eligible applications considered in the first year of the scholarship’s administration, demonstrating the demand for these types of scholarship opportunities. Given the ongoing workforce shortages in the clinical laboratory, it is more critical than ever to support young scientists interested in joining the laboratory workforce. 

Five recipients of the Ring Scholarship explain what drew them into the field, which laboratory profession they are seeking, and how the scholarship helps their education or career path. 

Alexandria Porter: Making an impact 

Alexandria Porter, a public health clinical library technician in Washington State, may have begun her studies uncertain of her career path after spending time in the military, but an associate’s degree in molecular biology gave her a foundation she knew she could build from. Originally, she wasn’t sure if she’d lean into veterinary science, since she loved animals, or something more medical, like a nurse. 

She was inspired by her mother’s research work with the Washington Department of Health, which is focused and centered in a laboratory. “She’ll go out to Puget Sound and collect samples of seafood, and she seemed so cool and quirky; she just loved what she did, and she loved the lab,” Ms. Porter says. 

When Ms. Porter investigated her choices further, she discovered the details of a medical laboratory technician (MLT) role, and it clicked. “I feel like it checked all the boxes. I can work in a hospital, but I don't have to be a nurse.” 

Better yet, she found that behind the scenes, the work of an MLT plays “a very vital role in patient care and impacts patient lives, probably as significantly as what nurses and CNAs and doctors do too,” she says. 

In the process of pursuing her bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science now, as a part of the University of Ohio’s online MLS program, Ms. Porter heard about the Ring Scholarship and applied because, “going back to school was a reality check financially.” 

Though she feels fresh in her field, she already has a longer-term goal, bolstered by the support of this scholarship. “My 10-year goal is to get to where I am a respected member within the community, people know who I am, and we're making the field something a little bit more well-known.” 

Aiden Keaton: Phlebotomy as a pathway 

Aiden Keaton, a phlebotomist processor student in New York, did a lot of thinking about what he wanted to do with his life while still in high school and quickly came to the answer: “I wanted to leave an impact on people’s lives.” The laboratory sciences seemed like a great way to do this, so he took a phlebotomy class through his community’s Career and Technical Education Center while he was still in high school. 

Having this certification before he even applied to college helped set him on his path ahead of other high school students. Now he’s pursuing a clinical laboratory technician (CLT) degree at SUNY Erie Community College followed by a clinical laboratory technologist degree. 

Receiving the Ring Scholarship not only lightened the financial burden of his education, it also made him more determined in his studies. “It’s given me an extra boost to try hard in school and to achieve what I want,” Mr. Keaton says. 

Mr. Keaton urges other students to consider a career in the laboratory professions. “If you want a very rewarding career path where you can help out a lot of people and potentially save people's lives…I think that's extremely rewarding in itself.” 

Miriam Diaz: A first-generation scholar 

For some students, figuring out what you want to do for a career doesn’t crystallize until college itself, but for Miriam Diaz, a student pursuing her MLT degree at McLennan Community College, she knew much sooner. 

“As a little girl, I knew I wanted to go into healthcare because I really enjoy helping people, but I wasn't sure what field I wanted to go into,” Ms. Diaz says. 

Fortunately, a “speed-dating” style overview of classes at the college introduced her to the professor, now her advisor, in charge of the MLT program. Her advisor recommended microbiology. “I ended up applying, and I got in, and I love it,” Ms. Diaz says. 

Ms. Diaz carries the unique mix of pride and burden of being a first-generation scholar who must support her own way through school and life. The Ring Scholarship made an important difference in her education. 

“I am very proud of myself knowing that I have been able to so far pay off all my schooling, and I will have some money left over so I can further my education, but it also makes me feel like I don't want to waste this money that was given to me by someone generous. It makes me want to be better in class, keep my grades up and make sure I don't fail,” she says. 

When her studies have felt extra challenging, she cheers herself on by thinking about her long-term goals and offers other students this advice: “Just don’t give up. Keep trying. It does get better.” 

Jared Justice: Making an impact behind the scenes

Jared Justice, a medical laboratory scientist at Appalachian Regional Healthcare at McDowell Hospital, feels lucky to have landed in a career that helps people in a relaxed environment. 

Inspired by the idea that as much as 70 percent of all clinical decisions are made based on laboratory results, he feels good about the impact his work has on patients, even if it’s behind the scenes. In fact, being a little bit out of the hustle of a clinical setting works well for him. 

“What I really like about MLS is how relaxed it is, and it's really more of a closed setting, where you don't have to deal with the public as much, but you get to still help them,” Mr. Justice says. 

Additionally, he feels like it gives him versatility. “You can take the job pretty much anywhere. There are some really awesome jobs in any state.” 

The Ring Scholarship removed some of the financial burden of his MLS education and allowed him to graduate with a low amount of student debt. “I'm neatly set up. I didn't have to feel as desperate whenever I was going through the program. It’s an incredible help, and I'm really grateful.” 

Mr. Justice also found value in getting to know his instructors and recommends that other students do the same because “they're going to be your colleagues eventually, and it's really good to build that connection and always have someone in your corner.” 

Uriah Guerra: A personal connection 

Uriah Guerra, a medical laboratory scientist at the only level one trauma center hospital in New Mexico, has always been drawn to science, fascinated by television shows on forensic analysis since they were young. However, it was a personal health crisis, in which they found themselves in the emergency room receiving blood transfusions with a misdiagnosis, that really kindled their interest about entering the field. 

“After having the full patient experience and being there for a couple of days, I definitely feel like it brought me exposure about what I'm interested in and what part of the field,” Uriah Guerra says. They were especially grateful for the health professionals who interacted with them and made the experience “easier to digest.” 

Years later, another life crisis ultimately led them to apply for the Ring Scholarship. The end of a relationship left them temporarily without a home and in emotional turmoil. Not only did their advisors and instructors offer leniency and kindness in their difficult time, they helped them find financial opportunities to get back on their feet. 

“[The scholarship] helped me in multiple aspects of my life because I wanted to make sure it was a fruitful investment that I would be able to return in some way,” Uriah Guerra says, and encourages any student who is struggling financially or personally to seek out opportunities of support. 

Most importantly, however, they urge fellow students and healthcare professionals to prioritize their own wellness. 

“Just do your best to take care of yourself, because we're going to be health professionals. If you're not useful to yourself, you can't really be as useful as you want to be in situations where you're trying to help others.” 

Application window opens soon 

The Ring Scholarship will launch its new application cycle on March 3, with the submission period ending on May 31. More information about eligibility criteria and application details will be available here. Scholarships range from $1,000-$5,000 depending on applicant qualifications and degree program pursued. ASCP members are encouraged to share this opportunity widely with their network and trainees that may be interested in or eligible for this opportunity. A wide range of candidates will be considered including high school and college students looking to enter or continue their laboratory science education, as well as in-service laboratory professionals looking to advance their laboratory training with higher education.