MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $295,000

Wasilla, Alaska –The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently awarded scholarships to 75 local students pursuing careers in health and wellness. The total dollar amount of scholarships awarded was $294,728. Some of the recipients are students just finishing high school and entering college for the first time; others are partway through their college careers, and still others are pursuing vocational training in health-related fields.

The Mat-Su Health Foundation scholarship program was created to build Mat-Su’s healthcare workforce of the future by encouraging local residents to pursue education in high-demand health and wellness fields. The scholarships are offered 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 unmet financial need, demonstrated interest in health care, and selection of a career choice that matches the workforce needs of the Mat-Su.

Two of the Academic Scholarships were given in honor of revered and respected former employees of Valley Hospital. The 2015 Annie Demming Scholarship was awarded to Craig Dollerhide. Demming served as Director of the Medical Records Department for Valley Hospital and retired after 28 years of service. The Vivian Shaver Scholarship was awarded to Kaitlin Daly, and this scholarship is given in honor of Vivian “Babe” Shaver, who worked at Valley Hospital and passed away in 1978.

The 2015 recipients of MSHF Academic Scholarship are:

Bonita Alderman
Kathryn Albert
Nathan Allton
Aneglica Baalam
Alan Bartelli
Marissa Beachell
Debra Blanchard
Daniel Brunnhoelzl
Colleen Bue
Miracle Burton
Joshun Christensen
Kritsa Croy
Bryan Dahms
Kaitlin Daly
Adinda Demske
Sara Diltz
Craig Dollerhide
Ashlyn Dorn
Starr Flavin
Nikita Foster
Shannan Garcia
Mary Geist
Adrian Giani
Raynie Hamlin
Jara Hicks
Stephanie Huycke
Sabrina Jurasek
Emma Lark
Jennifer Lee
Ruth Malek
Richard Manrique
Blake Marks
Candace Mauldin
Valencia McPhail
Nancy Means
Lily Michels
Banu Mufale
Marshal Packa
Katherine Paulick
RuVonne Parson
Terri Reynolds-Rogers
Brinnlee Salmon
Kelsey Schober
Charles Seddon
Ariel Sizemore
Alexa Starr
Bailey Stevenson
Rebecca Stiner
Molly Sullivan
Terra Swartzbacker
Kalia Thao
Kiana Verplancke
Michelle Warner
Jake Williams
Eli Wouk
Rashayne Zimmer

The recipients of Vocational Scholarships awarded since June, 2014 through today are listed below. The Vocational Scholarship program has no closing date, and awards are made throughout the year.

Penny Alstrom
Jessica Brent
Genya Burns
Vanessa Campbell
Antonia Commack
Hannah Cruse
Alexis Freland
Charlotte Mahoy
Jeremy Manley
Annelyssa Massie
Renae Nelson
Svetlana Pavlus
Cecelia Reichard
Colleen Rice
James Rogers
Kathryn Rose
Laura Sakraida
Charli Wooten
Heather Vest

More information 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.

Menu