Author: Bryan Meshke

Wasilla, Alaska –The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently awarded 63 academic scholarships totaling $353,039 to local students pursuing college degrees with health and wellness majors. In addition, the foundation awarded 20 vocational scholarships totaling $41,788 over the last twelve months to residents pursuing training and certificate programs related to health care careers, bring total scholarship giving to $389,227 for the year.

“Our scholarship awards grew significantly from 2015 to 2016. In fact, we awarded almost $100,000 more this time around,” said MSHF Executive Director Elizabeth Ripley. “The substantial increase is reflective of both the high quality of applications received and the desire of our board of directors to increase its commitment to growing our own health care workforce of the future.”

The Mat-Su Health Foundation offers scholarships in two categories: academic scholarships for students pursuing college degrees with health or wellness majors, and vocational scholarships to assist students with the cost of training and certifications for jobs in health and wellness related fields. Scholarships are awarded based on how well each applicant meets MSHF’s eligibility criteria, which includes financial need, demonstrated interest in health care, and selection of a career choice that matches the workforce needs of the Mat-Su. MSHF Academic scholarships are awarded one time annually, while vocational scholarships are awarded throughout the year.

Three of the Academic Scholarships have special significance: The Annie Demming Scholarship, the Vivian Shaver Scholarship, and the Ya Ne Dah Ah / K’tl’egh’i Sukdu Scholarship. Annie Demming served as Director of the Medical Records Department for Valley Hospital and retired after 28 years of service. The 2016 recipient of the scholarship named in her honor is Yana Golyan. The Vivian Shaver Scholarship was awarded to Kailey Carlson, and this scholarship is given in honor of Vivian “Babe” Shaver, who worked at Valley Hospital and passed away in 1978. The Ya Ne Dah Ah /K’tl’egh’i Sukdu scholarship is new this year and was created to honor Alaska Native traditions and culture in the Mat-Su. Ya Ne Dah Ah / K’tl’egh’i Sukdu loosely translates as “ancient stories/remaining stories of our people.” Ya Ne Dah Ah is Ahtna and K’tl’egh’i Sukdu is Dena’ina. This scholarship was awarded to Luke Tegeler.

The 2016 recipients of MSHF academic scholarships are:

Kathryn Albert
Tarah Alden
Corey Ambrose
Jessica Andersen
Adrianne Andrews
Natalya Baletskaya
Elise Barnhart
Alan Bartelli
Christina Bernier
Debra Blanchard
Daniel Brunnhoelzl
Heather Buchanan
Colleen Bue
Alex Buness
Miracle Burton
Kailey Carlson
Mariya Chavez
Kathryn Cocker
Bryan Dahms
Kaitlin Daly
Adinda Demske
Craig Dollerhide
Ashlyn Dorn
Daniel Dryden
Gregory Eisenhower
Tessamae Endes
Mary Geist
Yana Golyan
Sabrina Jerasek
Anthony Jurasek
Jared Layton
Jennifer Lee
Brandy Malidore
Richard Manrique
Blake Marks
Monica Martinez
Shiloh McRae
Deanna Ouellette
RuVonne Parson
Ashley Powell
Jospeh Powers
Beverly Ray
Terri Reynolds-Rogers
Heather Robinson
Alyssa Sasser
Hilary Stark
Alexa Starr
Timonthy Steenhout
Molly Sullivan
Nathan Svedin
Sarah Svedin
Terra Swartzbacker
Luke Tegeler
Kalia Thao
Carly Thomas
Kiana Verplacke
Jorene Volkheimer
Annie Wang
Whiteny Wang
Michelle Warner
Eli Wouk
Maritt Youngblood
Rashayne Zimmer

Recipients of MSHF vocational scholarships from June 2015 through April 2016 included the following individuals:

Margaret Alpiak
Kelsea Armstrong
Winona Benson
Nathan Binkley
David Calvert
Jessica Daigger
Alexsis Dushkin
Raven Gutierrez
Camilla Helms
Christine Inglet
Jennifer Johnson
Mary McMillan
Christina Moff
Emily Olsen
Katherine Paulick
Tiambria Phillips
Michaela Schneller
Jazzmyne Shapsnikoff
Kayla Weiss
Kristin Wilson

About MSHF: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF invests its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available online at www.healthymatsu.org/.

Wasilla, Alaska – Ten local organizations were recently selected to receive Mat-Su Health Foundation grants totaling more than $1.68 million under the foundation’s Healthy Impact grant program. The grants will go to the American Lung Association, Assistive Technology of Alaska, The Children’s Place, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Frontline Mission, Links/ADRC, Nugen’s Ranch, Planned Parenthood, Sunshine Community Health Center, and Wasilla Youth Baseball.

Healthy Impact Grants are awarded twice annually by the Mat-Su Health Foundation to fund local health-related projects in excess of $15,000. The recently selected grantees are:

• American Lung Association, $83,524 to for home air quality assessments and remediation plans for senior citizens, prioritizing homes primarily heated with wood.

• Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA), $50,000 to partially fund an assistive technology acquisition coordinator staff position who will assist Mat-Su residents in obtaining funding to purchase assistive technology. Assistive technology is any equipment, device, product or system – both low tech and high tech– that enables a person with a disability or a senior citizen to accomplish tasks safely and independently.

• The Children’s Place, $750,000 towards design and construction of a new Wasilla facility to meet growing demand for its services related to evaluation, investigation, and treatment of child abuse.

• Cook Inlet Tribal Council, $120,640 to fund substance abuse assessment services and peer support in the Mat-Su. The assessment services will be provided in conjunction with Knik Tribal Council and Chickaloon Village.

• Frontline Mission, $115,000 to strengthen the organization in the area of high level leadership development and to hire a full-time director and a part-time program coordinator.

• Links/ADRC, $99,523 in general operational support to continue to fund the Mat-Su’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and support the organization in achieving its goal of connecting clients to long-term services and supports.

• Nugen’s Ranch, $140,000 to be used for three purposes: to purchase a delivery truck, to develop an organizational/business plan for the organization, and to develop an executive director transition plan.

• Planned Parenthood, $40,000 to market its online health services, which allow patients access to secure face-to-face consultation with a health provider on their computer or mobile device.

• Sunshine Community Health Center. $229,387 to purchase medical equipment for its Willow and Talkeetna clinics and for remodeling of the Willow entrance lobby.

• Wasilla Youth Baseball, $60,000 to enhance both player and spectator safety through field improvements and backstop replacement.

The application period for the next round of Healthy Impact grants begins on January 1, 2017. The Mat-Su Health Foundation also offers a Target Wellness grant program for projects less than $15,000, and it is open year-round. More information and the online applications can be found at www.healthymatsu.org/.

About MSHF: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF invests its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available online at www.healthymatsu.org/.

Wasilla, Alaska –The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently awarded 261 academic scholarships to local residents, more than twice as many as were awarded last year. The amount awarded for 2018 was $817,853, an increase of 12 percent over last year’s $721,400. An additional $182,147 in Vocational Scholarships is expected to be awarded by the foundation in 2018, bringing the total to $1,000,000 to support education and career opportunities for Mat-Su residents.

“This was a record year for the Mat-Su Health Foundation program, both in terms of applicants and number of awards,” said MSHF Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Ripley. “With 18 of the top 25 fastest-growing occupations in Alaska being in health care, we’re honored to help grow tomorrow’s workforce today. This ensures that the fast-growing Mat-Su population will continue to have access to the services it needs to stay healthy.”

The Mat-Su Health Foundation offers scholarships in two categories: academic scholarships for students pursuing college degrees with health or wellness majors, and vocational scholarships to assist students with the cost of training and certifications for jobs in health and wellness fields. Scholarships are awarded based on how well each applicant meets MSHF’s eligibility criteria, which includes financial need, demonstrated interest in health care, and selection of a career choice that matches the workforce needs of the Mat-Su. MSHF academic scholarships are awarded one time annually, while vocational scholarships are awarded throughout the year.

All 2018 Mat-Su Health Foundation academic scholarship recipients are listed below, starting with the five Mat-Su Scholars Awards, and followed by all students who received awards:

• The Annie Deeming Scholarship for a current high school student: Antonio Rund
• The Vivian “Babe” Shaver Scholarship for a behavioral health major: Tamra Harriso
• The Ya Ne Dah Ah /K’tl’egh’i Sukdu Scholarship for a graduate-level applicant: Tessa Turner
• The Jessica Stevens Scholarship for a physician assistant major: Karen Clement
• The Darlene Reed Scholarship for a nursing major: Kaitlin Daly
• The George V. Larson Scholarship for a hospital administration major : Aaron Clements

Hannah Abbe

Theodore Abeles

Ruby Acord

GbenroAdetunji

McKenna Aga

Coleman Ahrens

Janelle Alder

Crystal Allen

Rebekkah Alley

Corey Ambrose

Kleigh Anderton

Trinity Antill

Kelsea Armstrong

Lucy Ashby

CorrinaAtkins

Dustin Atwood

Kayla Austin

ColletteBailey

Angelina Baklanov

Alan Bartelli

Caleb Beauvais

KeannaBeck

Hailey Belnap

Olga Berezyuk

SusannBergstrom

IsabellaBlake

IzabellaBlock

Hailey Boatman

Christen Bohl

Hannalora Bolduc

Kara Boothby

MalloryBradford

Anna Bradshaw

Rosanna Brandon

River Brothers

Mary Brown

HeatherBuchanan

ThomasBuckley

Alex Buness

Clara Burnett

Jasmine Burton

Stephanie Button

Kailey Carlson

Feona Carney

AmeliaCarney

BrysonCarrillo

KendraCasas

Brittany Caulkins

Jenny Chesbro

Jürgen Christiansen

CarstenChristiansen

Ryley Coke

Michael Consalo

SabrinaCoombs

Kayla Corgan

Melissa Crane

Sarah Crowley

Kristina Culbertson

Amber Curry

Emma Dahms

CamilleDayton

Rachel Delaney

AdindaDemske

Samantha Derr

Meda DeWitt

Alexis Dilley

Amanda Donnally

AshlynDorn

ArrianaDoty

Mary Drozd

Hayee Duguid

Steven Duncan

KaitlynDykman

Kaila East

Laurel Eliason

Kimberly Elliott

Amber Enns

Leah Erb

Terri-JoEwing

Trey Farber

ShayleeFelicetty-Kacena

Ema Fiedler

Benjamin Fife

ChelseaFinch

Parker Flaming

Jewel Fleckenstein

Amber Ford

Michael Foster

Angel Gascon

Fernanda Gastelum-Orduno

Lahna Gensler

Dana Gergilevich

Heidi Goozen

Jeremy Grice

Bryan Griffee

DeannaGriffin

Adriel Grimshaw

CaitlynHacker

CelesteHarrell

MeganHarris

ChantelHartle

Ben Henderson

Ciara Hendricks

Sierra Hernandez

Marika Hintz

TheresaHodgson

KendraHoffman

Breanna Holben

Mary Holbrook

Jenny Hopper

Matthew Horner

Devan Howard

Lydia Howard

KristianHughes

Aleahya Hunter

Alyssa Hutchins

Alexandra Hutchins

Amanda Hutchins

MelissaImgrund

AmeliaJohnson

Deborah Johnston

Hayleigh Jones

AndrewJones

KristenJorgensen

Michael Jurasek

Shenille Kelly

TiffanyKemp

Paige Kessler

Sierra Kistler

Mary Klapperich

Kirsten Knight

JenniferKolb

Alyson Kopsack

Nathan Kowalczk

Myia Kreider

Jared Layton

Corina Layton

Isabel Leath

Jeweleann Lelle’

Amy Link

HannahLoftus

Lauren Luchsinger

Julia Luey

TawnyaLuppino

Amanda Lyon

Gregory Lytle

Alli Madison

Chloe Mae

Jina Malone

RichardManrique

Blake Marks

Alan Markus

Kelly Marre

Ruby Matthews

Stephanie Mattson

Candace Mauldin

Alyssa McKenzie

Megan Mercer

Dalayon Miles

Helena Miller

Christy Miskinis

Michael Miskinis

Carol Mitchell

Kristen Moat

Makenna Morgan

Zoe Morris

Jayme Moudy-Ferrier

Danya Nicketa

Hayden Niekamp

Courtney Niemi

Amy O’Connor

Rachel Outterson

Kcie Owens

Garrett Pace

RuVonne Parson

Rio-Morgan Patrimonio-Raval

Presley Petersen

Joletta Petluska

McKenzie Pfister

Deven Pfister

KyleighPollock

Sydney Poorbaugh

Joseph Powers

Aurora Purington

Steven Ray

Jessica Reisinger

JordannReynolds

Terri Reynolds-Rogers

Samantha Rice

Noah Richards

Garey Robinson

Rebecca Rossing

Michelle Rountree

Brandon Rowley

Sarah Rubeck

Nicole Rufkahr

Emily Sager

Kyee Sanderson

Tarissa Sardari

Tucker Sawyer

Lauren Scanlan

Brayden Schachle

Hannah Schaefer

Dory Schneider

Sharon Schober

Julia Scully

Ashley Seever

Lily Sessom

Kortney Shaw

Helen Sheldon

Jake Simmons

Marcus Sinchuk

Leyla Sinyawski

Hailey Smart

Amanda Smith

Leah Smith

Bonnie Snyder

Rebecca Sorensen

Bricen Sorrell

Courtney Stahler

Erin Staricha

Christine Starkweather

Alexa Starr

Kirsten Strolle

Molly Sullivan

Connor Sullivan

Kyle Summerlin

Delta Summitt

Molly Swanson

Summer Sweet

Raini Tanori

JenniferTaylor

Luke Tegeler

Yolanda Thomas

Brandon Thompson

Elizabeth Tunnell

Lydia Vance

CarmonVanSickle

Eva Venema

Kiana Verplancke

Sarah Walker

Jessica Walker

Adam Ward

Natalie Waterhouse

Genevieve Weiss

Nigel West

Alana Wheaton

Heidi Wheeler

Kayleigh White

Danielle Williams

Madelyn Winder

Macaela Wolfe

Kirsten Woodard

Emily Wright

Maryann Zmuda

About MSHF: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight.The MSHF invests its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available online at www.healthymatsu.org/.

Wasilla, Alaska –The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has welcomed Amy Gorn and Elizabeth “Betsy” Smith to its team. Amy is the new program officer for the Healthy Foundations for Families focus area. Betsy is the Upper Susitna Valley community coordinator for R.O.C.K. Mat-Su (Raising Our Children with Kindness).

Amy is responsible for working with the MSHF program team to design and implement strategic initiatives to advance the foundation’s goals and vision. This includes reviewing and approving funding recommendations; providing project and grantee technical assistance; and interacting with other grant-makers, not-for-profit leaders and public and private stakeholders whose work intersects with that of the foundation. The goal of the Healthy Foundation for Families focus area is that all children and families are supported by a community-wide system that prevents maltreatment and promotes family resilience. Amy was previously employed as a community development supervisor at Rural Alaska Community Action Programs, Inc. Her experience also includes working in public radio in Sitka and Nome, and as a juvenile justice officer for the state of Alaska. She earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and communication from College of Saint Benedict/St. John’s University.

Betsy is working to advance the mission of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su in the Upper Susitna area, in particular supporting day-to-day communication and administration, community engagement, and data functions in her newly-created part-time position. R.O.C.K. Mat-Su is a cross-sector collaborative working to promote family resilience and reduce child maltreatment in the Mat-Su Borough. Betsy is also employed as the part-time executive director of the Northern Susitna Institute in Talkeetna. She has previously held a variety of positions in program management and environmental education. Betsy earned a Master of Education degree in environmental education from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in biology from College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University.

About MSHF: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF keeps its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits in the community by investing into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su. More information is available online at www.healthymatsu.org/.

Wasilla, Alaska – The Alaska Journal of Commerce has selected Desiré Shepler as one its Top 40 Under 40 professionals for 2018. Shepler is the director of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su (Raising Our Children with Kindness), a community collaborative supported by the Mat-Su Health Foundation that is working to increase family resilience and create a culture that supports children and families.

Under Shepler’s leadership, R.O.C.K. Mat-Su has grown to a collaborative of over 30 cross-sector partners engaging in 15 strategies spanning the public health prevention spectrum. Some highlights of the work of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su include developing the Palmer Families with Infants and Toddlers (FIT) Court, partnering with the Mat-Su Borough School District to bring trauma-informed practices to 15 schools, and collaborating with the Office of Children’s Services to improve the experience of family contact for parents with children in foster care.

Shepler began working for the Mat-Su Health Foundation in 2013, serving first as program associate, then as a program officer. She was promoted to her current position of director of R.O.C.K. Mat-Su in 2016. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Shepler serves the Mat-Su community as a volunteer yoga instructor, as board secretary of the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, and as secretary of the Palmer High School Cross Country Team boosters. She earned Master of Public Health and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Alaska Anchorage and an associate degree from Mat-Su College. In 2010, she was the recipient of a Mat-Su Health Foundation academic scholarship, making her the first MSHF scholarship recipient to go on to employment with the foundation.

The Top 40 Under 40 Program annually honors the talents and outstanding efforts of individual Alaskans in their professions and in their community involvement. Shepler was chosen for the award by Alaska Journal of Commerce management out of more than 100 nominations. All 40 awardees will be recognized at an awards reception in Anchorage in April.