Six active members of Marian Medical Center's Volunteens program for youth in Santa Maria were recently awarded a combined $5,000 in college scholarships by the Marian Auxiliary.

Each of the recipients demonstrated a commitment to the core values of Marian Medical Center while donating a minimum of 100 volunteer hours. In order to be eligible for an award, applicants also needed to demonstrate academic pursuit of a career in the health-care field. Awards are based on academic achievement, volunteer service and financial need.

Three of the recipients are from St. Joseph High School. Brittany Heil ($750) will attend Allan Hancock College following graduation and pursue a degree in business and health management, while Juliette Oram ($750) and Sara Cox ($1,000) both hope to become surgical physicians and will attend Stanford University and Santa Clara University, respectively.

Other recipients are Righetti High School graduate Hao Feng ($750), who plans to major in biology; Santa Maria High School's Erin Thompson ($1000), who will enter Mount St. Mary's College in the fall in the pre-medical program; and Valley Christian Academy's Brittani Datu ($750), who plans to attend Vanguard University of Southern California where she will study pharmacology or radiology as well as business.