(A) Creation Of Fund: There is hereby created a perpetual medical scholarship fund under the jurisdiction of Elko County to be known as the Dr. L.A. Moren medical scholarship fund to assist medical students who have completed all undergraduate work or if there is insufficient demand by medical students for such assistance, to assist premedical students in the junior and senior years of undergraduate schooling who have a grade point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.00 grading system or its equivalent or to assist those studying to become nurses or physician's assistants whether at the undergraduate or graduate level and who express a desire to return or come to the county to practice the chosen medical profession; private donations may be accepted by the county treasurer and distributed directly to the medical scholarship fund by the treasurer. (Ord. 1973-D, 12-6-1973, eff. 1-15-1974; amd. Ord., 5-9-1974, eff. 5-13-1974)
(B) Eligibility: Each applicant must meet the following conditions and in the event of more than one applicant for one scholarship, the scholarship will be awarded to the person with the greatest weighted average, said average to be arrived at as follows:
1. Residence and personal ties to Elko County, indicating return to Elko County to practice for at least 5 years | 51 percent |
2. Undergraduate scholastic average | 13 percent |
3. Financial need (ability of applicant to attend without assistance) | 13 percent |
4. Recommendation of the Elko County Medical Society | 13 percent |
Elko County shall have the right to set priorities of need as to area within the county and as to particular medical fields and to give determinative weight to those factors and to the consideration of nearness of completion of studies of an applicant.
It is hereby announced as the policy of this section that the passage and existence hereof is not a guarantee to any applicant of the existence of funds for a scholarship or scholarships in any given year but is rather a manifestation of intent on the part of the county to provide such scholarships if the funds are available.
(C) Contract: Each applicant must be willing to enter into a contract wherein such applicant shall agree to return to the county for a number of years equal to the number of years applicant seeks assistance and said contract shall contain the following provisions:
1. To repay to the county an amount to be agreed upon over a period of time to be no longer than the number of years assistance was received; said repayments may be in the form of services; that is, a period of time of medical practice at a place agreed upon within the county may be agreed to amount to a repayment of an agreed portion of the debt.
2. To agree to repay all assistance granted in the event the applicant should fail to practice his or her medical profession within Elko County, such payment to be made within five (5) years after due credit is given for length of time profession has in fact been practiced in Elko County, together with interest thereon at the rate of not less than eight percent (8%) per annum to be computed from the date assistance was received. Such agreement may also include a penalty clause for failure to return and/or failure to comply with length of stay as agreed.
3. To agree that if an applicant completes the medical training agreed to be pursued and is certified to practice the same in the state of Nevada and returns to Elko County and there remains in the practice of said profession, such person shall have ten (10) years to make any monetary repayment required after due credit is given for length of time profession has been practiced in Elko County.
4. To agree to repay all assistance granted in the event the applicant should fail to become licensed as required by law, such payment to be made within five (5) years from the first known time of such inability.
5. To pursue studies diligently and continuously if physically able.
6. To secure and maintain a policy of life insurance in an amount equal to all assistance furnished, naming the county as beneficiary, such policy to remain in full force and effect until such time as any and all amounts due have been fully paid, either by money or time of practice in the county as hereinbefore set out.
7. The contract may include such other matters as the board of county commissioners shall deem necessary. (Ord. 1973-D, 12-6-1973, eff. 1-15-1974)
(D) Fields Available: Scholarship assistance will only be granted in the following fields of medical training:
1. Physicians.
2. Dentists.
3. Nurses.
4. Physician's assistants.
5. Premedical training of those who meet the standards mentioned in subsection (A) of this section. (Ord. 1973-D, 12-6-1973, eff. 1-15-1974; amd. Ord., 5-9-1974, eff. 5-13-1974)
(E) Applications: Each applicant shall submit a personal resume to the Elko County Medical Society and after approval by said society, applicant may apply for assistance to the board of county commissioners by letter setting forth the amount requested, need, personal ties to Elko County, scholastic record, marital status, number of children, age, evidence of acceptance for school and conditions of repayment if assistance is granted. (Ord. 1973-D, 12-6-1973, eff. 1-15-1974)