Scholarships Awarded at Hoops Family Children’s Hospital

Friday, July 30, 2021

The Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation announced the establishment of the first pediatric oncology scholarship program at

Thomas Ruffell

Hoops Family Children’s Hospital (HFCH) at Cabell Huntington Hospital (CHH), a member of Mountain Health Network.  The Jonathan A. Ferguson and Dr. Cheryl L. Cook Scholarship was established by  Dr. Cook in honor of her husband,  Jon Ferguson, who passed away after an eight-month battle with acute lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma.

The Jonathan Ferguson Scholarship is a $1,000 annual scholarship that offers educational support to past or present patients of the HFCH Pediatric Oncology Program.  This scholarship is for high school seniors who were treated for cancer and have demonstrated their ability to succeed academically despite a challenging medical diagnosis. 

The inaugural recipients of the scholarship were recognized during a ceremony on June 24.  Laykin Hayes, Symmes Valley High School;

Dr. Cook has served families in the Tri-State area as a pediatric physician since 1988, including 32 years with Tri-State Pediatrics, specializing in the care of infants, children, teenagers and children with special needs. Jon was

Laykin Hayes

responsible for merging the Our Lady of Bellefonte Credit Union with Member's Choice Credit Union in Ashland, which created a partnership that benefited the hospital staff and families in the Tri-State area. He also taught junior achievement at Raceland-Worthington High School where he received the National Junior Achievement Award for Outstanding Teacher.Luke Colegrove, Fairland High School and Thomas Ruffell, home schooled student were presented certificates by Dr. Cook and Paul T. Finch, MD, pediatric oncologist at HFCH.

In her remarks at the awards ceremony Dr. Cook said her wish was for Jonathan’s work in the community continue. “The recipients of these scholarships are like expanding ripples in the water carrying on his legacy,” she said.

“We are forever grateful for Dr. Cheryl Cook, and her heart to help others,” said Kristi Arrowood, CHH director of development.  “Dr.

Luke Colegrove

Cook has seen firsthand what families who have faced childhood cancer struggle with, and she understands how overwhelming the journey can be.  She saw the need and chose to support young cancer survivors’ pursuit of higher education to build a community of support for those affected by cancer.”

“We thank Dr. Cook for recognizing the need to support young cancer survivors in our community,” said Bradley Burck, vice president of corporate foundations at CHH and St. Mary’s Medical Center. “We truly appreciate her establishing the scholarship and look forward to honoring even more deserving young people.”

For more information about the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation, please visit www.cabellhuntington.org/foundation.