For more than 30 years, Dr. Charles “Charlie” Hendricks has been a cornerstone of care at Mount Desert Island Hospital, known for his surgical skill, deep compassion, and unwavering dedication to patients. Now, he and his family are extending that care in a new way, by supporting the next generation of nurses.
The Hendricks Family Nursing Advancement Scholarship will provide up to $10,000 annually to non-traditional students and adult learners pursuing nursing careers. Funds can be used for tuition or living expenses, helping to remove the financial barriers that often stand between students and their career goals.
Through this scholarship, Dr. Hendricks hopes to make it easier for students to enter or advance in the nursing profession, ensuring the island community continues to have the compassionate, skilled caregivers it needs for years to come.
Speaking about the impact he hopes the scholarship will have, Dr. Hendricks explained, “Time and again, over the many years of my practice here in Bar Harbor, I’ve worked with good, motivated people aspiring to transition into a nursing career at later points in their lives. It’s much harder to accomplish once you’ve taken on life’s responsibilities, but I feel when able to make that transition, these folks bring such a breadth of life experience to the profession. So much so, that they make some of the most compassionate and skilled nurses! It has been a long-term goal of mine to help smooth that path in some way. My family is deeply connected to this initiative and community. With the need for nursing staff so acute, the time seemed right to begin this process for the island and hospital we cherish.”
Chrissi Maguire, President and CEO of MDI Hospital speaks highly of this scholarship and Dr. Hendricks, saying, “Charlie embodies skill, compassion, and dedication. He cares deeply for every patient and team member and inspires everyone around him. The Hendricks Family Nursing Advancement Scholarship reflects his belief in supporting the next generation of caregivers and will make a lasting impact on our island community.”
This scholarship may be used to cover the cost of tuition or other living expenses while attending a nursing program. The Mount Desert Nursing Association will distribute the stipend directly to the student, or through direct payments.
Application forms and submission instructions can be found here.
Interested students should submit their applications by September 15th.