Ferguson-Osterlin Scholarship

The Ferguson-Osterlin Scholarship was established by the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Benzie Medical Alliance. Also known locally as the Tri-County Medical Alliance, this scholarship honors the memory of Mary Ferguson and Helen Osterlin of Traverse City, who were among the Alliance"s founding members. The Tri-County Alliance was formed in 1939 as the local Medical Society Auxiliary and has long supported education at NMC. For many decades, the organization raised funds annually to award nursing scholarships to students from Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie counties. Later, the scholarship was expanded to assist students pursuing education in any of the health occupations. The initial endowment was created in 1988 with a bequest to the Alliance by Mary Ferguson. The endowment expanded with the death of longtime NMC patron and community leader Helen Osterlin in 1996.