Emily Bemis has always enjoyed working with people. As a senior at Pekin High School in 2016, she was exploring career options, knowing she wanted to work with people and make an impact on their lives. In high school, she had the opportunity to shadow a Speech-Language-Pathologist. “As I did my research on this career path, I thought about how incredibly satisfying it would it be to help and give someone the power to communicate with others. It would allow me to provide children and adults with the skills they need to be successful in the classroom and life,” she said in her LCL scholarship application.
Following that experience, Emily attended the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), earning her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After completing her BA, she immediately began work towards her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology at UNI. After graduating in May of 2021, Emily returned to Southeast Iowa to join the Great Prairie AEA team as a Speech-Language Pathologist. “Being able to give back to a community that gave so much to me drew me back to the area,” Bemis said of her return to southeast Iowa.
Emily is a two-time Laboratory Control Ltd. Health Care Career Scholarship recipient. The scholarship program intends to invest in the education of those students that may look to southeast Iowa for employment in health care following the completion of their studies. After graduating from UNI in May of 2021, Emily did just that. She is now employed as a Speech-Language Pathologist with Great Prairie AEA, and confident the move back to southeast Iowa will be a fulfilling one.
Bemis, who initially thought she would pursue a career in education, encouraged local students to consider a career in health care. “I would encourage students -even if they are unsure- to try it out! In the healthcare field, the opportunities are endless; you will make so many different connections with other professionals.”
The Laboratory Control Ltd. Health Care Career Scholarship Fund is an endowed fund administered by the Legacy Foundation for the express purpose of scholarship support for individuals interested in pursuing a career in health care. Since its inception, 172 students in health care programs have received $454,125 in scholarship support. You can find more information regarding the LCL Scholarship program at https://www.ottumwalegacy.org/agenda-for-action/laboratory-control-ltd-health-career-scholarship
