Capital Health has announced four winners of full-tuition scholarships to Rider University beginning in Fall 2026 as part of an employee education benefits partnership with the university. The scholarship winners are immediate family members of Capital Health employees and include Alayna Barnhard (biochemistry), Jordan Ferrer (exercise science), Emily Hartshaw (elementary education), and Madison Stahl (criminal justice). Capital Health’s partnership with Rider launched in October 2020.
“On behalf of Capital Health, I’m thrilled to recognize the 2026 winners of our full-tuition scholarships to Rider University,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. “This scholarship program is just one of the many education related benefits and opportunities we offer employees and their families. It’s exciting to be able to help more and more members of our Capital Health family pursue higher education. Congratulations to this year’s winners and our continued best wishes for success in this important step in their education journey.”
Alayna Barnhard of Fallsington, Pennsylvania, is a graduate of Pennsbury High School. The daughter of Jill Barnhard and Michael Barnhard, director of Project Management at Capital Health, Alayna will study biochemistry at Rider’s School of Science, Technology and Mathematics.
Jordan Ferrer of Jackson, New Jersey, is a graduate of Jackson Township High School and is the son of Jayvee Ferrer and Karl Ferrer, assistant nurse manager in the Emergency Department at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell. Jordan will study exercise science at Rider’s School of Science, Technology and Mathematics.
Emily Hartshaw of Maple Shade, New Jersey, is a graduate of Maple Shade High School and is the daughter of Tom Hartshaw and Kathleen Hartshaw, supervisor of the Vascular Lab at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell. Emily will study elementary education at Rider’s School of Education and Human Services.
Madison (Maddy) Stahl of Burlington, New Jersey, is a rising junior at Rider University and daughter of Barbara Stahl, patient access coordinator at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell. A graduate of Burlington City High School, Maddy is studying biology at Rider’s School of Science, Technology and Mathematics.
Recipients of Capital Health’s full-tuition scholarship to Rider University must be new full-time undergraduate, first-time freshman, current undergraduate students, or undergraduate transfer students. Scholarships are awarded for four consecutive years or until the completion of the academic program. Students must be full-time students, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, and must be considered a student in good standing by Rider University at all times during their enrollment. To be eligible for the scholarships, candidates or their immediate family members must be full-time, non-union employees of Capital Health for at least one year and meet additional eligibility requirements.
Capital Health’s employee education benefits program also features a 50% tuition discount agreement with Rider University for non-union employees and their immediate family members (cannot be combined with full-tuition scholarships). Other Rider education benefits for Capital Health employees include an application fee waiver; free, unofficial evaluation of transfer credits prior to applying; and a Rider academic advisor to help plan their schedule. Graduate student applicants can request a free evaluation of transfer credits as well as course and GMAT/GRE waivers. This tuition discount program is separate from Capital Health’s tuition reimbursement program, and Capital Health employees may be eligible for both Rider’s tuition discount, and Capital Health’s tuition reimbursement. Capital Health also offers several other programs designed to offer employees, their family, and members of the community opportunities to pursue healthcare related education including its own EMT Academy, surgical tech and central sterile processing training programs, and a home health care aide education program.
Capital Health is the Central New Jersey/Lower Bucks County region’s leader in providing progressive, quality patient care with significant investments in physicians, nurses and staff, as well as advanced technology. Comprised of two hospitals (Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton and Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell), a Hamilton outpatient facility, and an extensive network of primary and specialty care practices across the region, Capital Health is a dynamic health care resource accredited by DNV. To learn more, visit capitalhealth.org.