A statewide organization has expressed its appreciation to Arkansas Tech University faculty member Dr. Melinda A. Wilkins by naming a scholarship in her honor.
The Arkansas chapter of the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) announced the establishment of the Johnson-Wilkins Scholarship in recognition of Wilkins and one of her HIMSS colleagues, Steven Johnson, during the organization’s 2019 conference in Little Rock.
Wilkins holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University as well as a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Capella University.
She served on the ATU faculty from 1988-2015, and after one year away as vice president for research and education at Administrative Consultant Service LLC, returned to the Arkansas Tech faculty in 2016.
“I have worked with this group for several years as they have had various fundraising events to support student scholarships,” said Wilkins. “I was totally surprised that they decided to name the scholarship after myself and another individual, Steven Johnson, as we have worked to help make this happen each year. I love how there are other organizations that see what our students and graduates can bring to the healthcare field and work to make sure they are able to complete the health information management and health informatics programs.”
Two ATU students received scholarships during the 2019 Arkansas HIMSS Conference. Sarah Maulden of Bee Branch and Jennifer Malardier of Russellville both earned $1,000 to help fund their education.
Learn more about the ATU health information management and health informatics programs at www.atu.edu/biosciences/him and www.atu.edu/gradcollege/degree-healthinfo.php.
