More than 150 students received a Lee Memorial Health System Grant Wednesday night at South Fort Myers High School to further their education in health care.

Human Resources Administration Business Partner Michael Polito said originally many individuals and organizations provided their own educational grants. Eight years ago, he restructured things and began the Lee Memorial Health System Education Grant program. Now there are 10 separate funding agencies that help fund the education grants.

Since the program combined its efforts, it has provided $1.6 million to students, which has amounted to 1,000 grants. Since 1990, 1,557 grants have been awarded for a total of $2.09 million.

Those interested have to fill out an application and write an essay of what they want to study in school. Polito said they allocate how much money they give the students based on certain criteria that partially deals with their financial status.

“They all get different amounts based on financial need and what they are going to school for,” Polito said.

This year 154 students, 56 of whom are from Cape Coral, were awarded a grant ranging from $1,200 to $1,800 on Wednesday.

The Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary donated $50,000 towards the overall $197,000 that was given to students on Wednesday.

Polito said the grants are really for anyone – recent high school graduates, hospital volunteers and employees – who wants to study a program in health related fields.

“It is open to the community,” he said about the grant.

They received 175 applications for the grants this year.

“We try to accommodate as many as we can,” Polito said about the applicants.

The Lee Memorial Health System has 358 job postings, which Polito said are in specialty areas. He said some of the grants they provided are for individuals who are seeking further education for those speciality positions.