Ten students from local high schools received scholarships from Merrimack Valley Hospital last week.

Five students received $1,000 scholarships from the Haverhill hospital's medical staff and five received $500 scholarships from the hospital itself.

The recipients of $500 hospital scholarships are Ellen Broz of Pentucket Regional High School, who will attend Penn State as an emergency medicine major; Hailey Brignac, also from Pentucket Regional High School, who will attend Roger Williams University to study marine biology with a pre-med basis; Karen O'Hare from Georgetown High School, who will study nursing at Sacred Heart University; Carly LaMontagne from Amesbury High School, who will also study nursing at Simmons College; and Stephanie Markarian from Timberlane Regiona High School in Plaistow, N.H., who will attend Endicott College to study pediatrics and neonatology.

"Merrimack Valley Hospital and its medical staff were proud to offer scholarships to these deserving young students who are planning on studying nursing, biology, psychology and pre-med during their undergraduate career. The academic, athletic and community achievements of these students was impressive," said Merrimack Valley Hospital CEO Michael Collins

Recipients of $1,000 scholarships from medical staff are Kayla Hatch from Timberlane Regional High School, who will attend St. Anselm College as a nursing major; Cassandra Gauron, from Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in Haverhill, who will study nursing at University of Massachusetts Lowell; Elizabeth Betances from Haverhill High School, who will study medicine at University of Massachusetts Lowell; Ashlee Grenier from Georgetown High School, who will study pharmacology at Mass College of Pharmacy; and April O'Brien from Pentucket Regional High School, who will study medicine at Dartmouth.

"It was a great pleasure for me on behalf of the physicians and staff at Merrimack Valley Hospital, to present to these very qualified students scholarships which will enable them to pursue their chosen careers. We wish them well and happiness in all their ventures," said Dr. Peter Rees, president of the medical staff.

To qualify, students had to have a letter of acceptance to an accredited school where they would study full-time in a medical or healthcare related field.

Students were chosen based on several factors including class rank, awards, class activities, school sports and community service, with heavy emphasis on an essay.