Wasilla, Alaska –The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently awarded 128 academic scholarships totaling $721,400 to Mat-Su students pursuing college degrees in health and wellness. In addition, the foundation awarded 23 vocational scholarships totaling $48,636 to residents pursuing health-related training and certificate programs. Together, the academic and vocational scholarship programs awarded $770,036 – almost double the $389,227 awarded the previous year.

“Workforce development is the key driver of our scholarship program,” said MSHF Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Ripley. “Of the 25 occupations expected to grow the most in Alaska, 18 are related to health care. As Mat-Su grows, so does our need for a highly trained and educated health care workforce, and this scholarship program can help fill that need with local residents.”

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.

New in 2017 is the Mat-Su Scholars Award, which is not based on financial need, but instead is awarded based on the applicant’s career goal, an essay, and an interview. Mat-Su Scholars awards are for $10,000 each and were awarded to students who meet specific criteria:

The Annie Demming Scholarship for a current high school student: Deborah Johnston
• The Vivian “Babe” Shaver Scholarship for a behavioral health major: Michael Consalo
• The Ya Ne Dah Ah /K’tl’egh’i Sukdu Scholarship for a graduate-level applicant: Christina Bernier
• The Jessica Stevens Scholarship for a physician assistant major: Hilary Stark
• The Darlene Reed Scholarship for a nursing major: Heather Hanes

The following people received 2017 MSHF academic scholarships; individual awards ranged from $500 – $20,000:

Josephine Amaktoolik
Kelsea Armstrong
Alan Bartelli
Christina Bernier
Hailey Boatman
Christen Bohl
Braden Booker
Kelsey Boss
Stormy Boylan
Daniel Brunnhoelzl
Heather Buchanan
Thomas Buckley
Colleen Bue
Alex Buness
Teresa Capo
Mariya Chavez
Joshua Christensen
Kathryn Cocker
Michael Consalo
Moriah Cordell
Sarah Crowley
Jessica Czechowicz
Bryan Dahms
Kaitlin Daly
Adinda Demske
Alexis Dilley
McKenzie Docherty
Ashlyn Dorn
Keegan Dossett
Daniel Dryden
Jessica Duke
Gregory Eisenhower
Laurel Eliason
Terri-Jo Ewing
Parker Flaming
Troy Foley
Simona Fonov
Samantha Gibson
Seneca Glenn
John Gregory
Heather Hanes
Heather Harlow
Celeste Harrell
Haley Hershman
Marika Hintz
Kyra Hoenack
Matthew Horner
Lydia Howard
Tyler Howlett
Sierra Imoe
Mackenzie Jenkins
Harrison Jennings
Deborah Johnston
Sabrina Jurasek
Angela Kesler
Paige Kessler
Sierra Kistler
Mary Klapperich
Madeline Ko
Jennifer Kolb
Kerston Krull
Rachel Laws
Jared Layton
Katherine Little
Sheva Loncle
Robert Lyons
Richard Manrique
Blake Marks
Ruby Matthews
Candace Mauldin
Shiloh McRae
Lindsay Messenger
Carol Mitchell
Christopher Mobley
Andrea Moore
Zoe Morris
Sean Morris
Hayden Niekamp
Vicki Nisonger-Maack
Melissa Oathout
RuVonne Parson
Lauryn Pealatere
Rebecca Petersen
Deven Pfister
Sydney Poorbaugh
Maria Power
Caitlin Prichett
Beverly Ray
Jessica Reisinger
Kiera Richardson
Brecken Riekean
Michelle Rountree
Nathaniel Savel
Brayden Schachle
Lynnsay Scott
Mackenzie Seims
Kaleb Self
Lynda Selk
Leyla Sinyawski
Alesya Sinyawski
Isabel Snell
Karl Soderstrom
Rebecca Sorensen
Valerie Spotto
Hilary Stark
Alexa Starr
Katherine Stochosky
Molly Sullivan
Sarah Svedin
Luke Tegeler
Yolanda Thomas
Taylor Tracy
Kiana Verplancke
Samantha Vetter
Jorene Volkheimer
Whitney Wang
Annie Wang
Adam Ward
Michelle Warner
Steven Webb
Megan Webb
Alana Wheaton
Heidi Wheeler
Kevin Williams
Macaela Wolfe
Annette Woodard
Kirsten Woodard
Maryann Zmuda

The following individuals received MSHF vocational scholarships during the time period of May, 2016 through April, 2017. Individual awards ranged from $650 – $5,000.

Francine Bennis
Hope Dahl
Rachel Gobbell
John Hubbard
Jennifer Johnson
Tawnya Luppino
Samantha Mckown
Mary Medinas
Benjamin Norton
Alesya Oleynik
Balassia Olsen
Ruth Pearcy
Rebecca Petersen
Elona Petrienko
Hailey Pierce
Laura Porter
Kathryn Rose
Angela Spencer
Breanne Sterner
Danette Totten
Robert Wensel
Michelle West
Macaela Wolfe

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.