Nine local students were presented Andalusia Health Services scholarships Thursday at Andalusia Regional Hospital.

Andalusia Health Services, Inc., which was funded by the sale of the then locally-owned hospital, manages interest earned on that money to enhance medical care in Covington County. One of the ways it does that is by providing scholarships each year to students entering the medical field. In return for scholarship money, students sign contracts indicating they will work in Covington County for one year for every year they receive scholarship assistance, scholarship selection committee chair Wayne Bennett said.

Dr. Tara Harden, a 2001 recipient of the scholarship and current general surgeon in Andalusia, spoke to the group. Harden told the group of her journey back to Andalusia.

Those receiving registered nursing scholarships are MaryBeth Arrington, Chelsea Davis, Marta Godwin, Stephen Hudson, Allison Warren, Wallace Sundae Jr.

Emily Cleghorn and Hannah Harrelson were presented scholarships for masters in speech pathology, and Ladonice Ingram received a scholarship for licensed practical nursing.