Wasilla, Alaska – For the fifth year in a row, the Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is increasing the amount it is awarding in academic scholarships. This year, 363 Mat-Su residents will share in more than $1.8 million to pursue higher education in the fields of health and human services. Individual awards will range from $500 to $7,000.

“The vision of the Mat-Su Health Foundation is a community where all persons have the opportunity for a healthy life. One strategy to achieve that is ensuring there is sufficient healthcare workforce with the expertise to meet the needs our growing community,” said MSHF President and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Ripley. “MSHF  scholarships help support local residents pursuing the education and training necessary to fill those integral roles.”

The Mat-Su Health Foundation’s 2022 academic scholarship recipients are listed below, starting with the six Mat-Su Scholars Awards and followed by all other students who received awards.

• The Annie Demming Scholarship for a current high school student: Leah Beer
• The Vivian “Babe” Shaver Scholarship for a behavioral health major: Allison Leadbetter
• The Ya Ne Dah Ah /K’tl’egh’i Sukdu Scholarship for a graduate-level applicant: Shiann Bontrager
• The Jessica Stevens Scholarship for a physician assistant major: Tristan Merchant
• The Darlene Reed Scholarship for a nursing major: Brenda Holbrook
• The George V. Larson, III Scholarship for a hospital administration or nonprofit management major: Azlynn Brandenburg

Annie Abeles Ruby Acord Christine Dawn Adams David Adams Marissa Akers Rhys Allen Rebecca Ames Jessica Andersen Kasiana Anderson Amaliya Andrushko Trinity Antill Alexandra Apling Kelsea Armstrong Andrew Ashton Belle Baca Rebekah Bailey Meghan Bailey Victoria Banks Landon Basner Marissa Beachell Nicole Bell Ryan Benedict Amanda Berends Olga Berezyuk Catherine Bergey Courtney Bernowski Elsa Biddle Nona Bird Sarah Blanning Allaina Bolinder Stacey Bowden Braden Bowker Eldridge Bradley Cheyenne Breshears Alice Breshears Laura Brockman Kristie Brooks Isabella Brown Charlotte Brown Paula Brown Jacqueline Brown Chris Brown Sarah Bryan Robyn Burton Monica Bustillos Alexandra Butler Alexander Cadieux Zanya Caldwell Kailey Carlson Feona Carney Rachel Carpenter Heather Carter Aaliyah Caruso Nicole Catlett BonnieJean Christensen Justina Christensen Martha Christenson Arora Clay Stefani Clements Tyler Coffman Emily Colee Jadyn Collier Brooke Compton Amity Condie Elizabeth Condio Megan Coniam Rachel Cote Kiela Cott Kaci Cox Bryon Croom Tansi Daugherty Hanna Davila Camille Dayton Sarah Deardorff Alyna Deishl Danielle DePaepe Corina Dickey Sara Diltz Chloe Dolman Isabella Duffield Hannah Duguid Sharon Duste Megan Eakin Ayla Ehmann Macee Eklund Tyler Eldridge Grace Eldridge Jena Enderson-Roop Brett Ewing Breanna Ewing Kira Fagerstrom Faith Farris Desiree Ferguson Rhodora Ferris Vincent Feuilles Jennifer Fields Ryan Finley Sage Fitchett Corbin Flaming Jewel Fleckenstein Elizabeth Fountain Shannon Frati Molly Frati Pamela Freeman Rett Gallagher Heather Gallatin-Baker Brittany Galloway Lyanna Garver Mary Geist Samantha Gerhardt Katherine Germain Cherianne Germain Samantha Gibson Sarah Godfrey Dawn Gonzalez Heidi Goozen Alia Granda Mark Granda

Katrina Grant Ashley Grill Taylor Grohol Amber Grubb Frank Grubbs Ekaterina Gurgurov Desiree Hacker Hana Haddeland Susan Haddox Jared Hanson Alana Harris Caitlyn Harrison Raquelle Hartmann Natalia Heath Valerie Heinrichs Joshua Hejl Ben Henderson Sierra Hernandez Elizabeth Heyano Mary Holbrook Hailey Holland Myah Hoover Judith Horcsik Tracia Howell-West Ally Hull Mikaela Hull Emily Humenik Michelle Hupfer Tobin Hushower Amanda Hutchins Faith Itta Ella Ivanoff Faith James Karolyn James-Wallace Sarah Jamieson Lariah Jasek Rachael Johnson Megan Johnson Alyssa Johnson Jessica Jones Rhiannon Jones-Young Julia Kahumoku Aryanna Killebrew Moriah Kinne Angelina Klapperich Justin Knight Payton Knittle Elisabeth Kolb Brooklyn Kopsack Yulia Koroleva Kelsey Kraemer Aubrey Kramer Nathan Kristich Isabella Krostek Lorentzen Chami Krueger Ethan Kuzina Leslie Lajeunesse Rima Lake Brittany Lambing Kailah Laxague Jared Layton Corina Layton Annette Lecomte Alexa Leingang Carol Leonard Tiffany Michelle Leonard Angela Leshchinskiy Roma Lyn Leuthold Angel Libby Emily Link Keely Livingston Marin Livingston Alexis Lochner Cindy Lorang Teresa Lowrey Lauren Luchsinger Margaret Ludwig Gregory Lytle Vanessa Madruga Sarah MaffeJacob Mahoney Ashley Marsden Angel Martin Hannah Martin Ruby Matthews Alexis Mattson Sabrina Maurer Emily Maxwell Brandi Mayo Christina McAdams Carrie McClure Kimberly McDowell Demetria McGrew Laura McHenry Alexandra McNinch Mya Meehl Harrison Menard Autumn Merrill Neve Michael Alyssa Miles Melissa Miller Liz Miller Maria Mills-Price Shannon Minder Gracie Minnick-Whaley Carol Mitchell Ryan Moat Desiree Molina Connor Monroe Emily Montanez Noel Moritz Mariah Morris Colleen Newcity Sommer Nielsen Cassidi O’Brien Cariera Odenthal Cynthia Odongo Lydia Ortiz Christine Oswald

Alyssa Oswald Narda Oteo Amie Otis Samuel Ouellette Danielle Owens Ashley Pack Avery Palenske RuVonne ParsonSophie Paterson Rio-Morgan Patrimonio-Raval Susan Paul Kyra Pehrson Anna Peters Jennifer Petty Trisha Pevan Kristen Pickard Grace Piersma Jonathan Pomrenke Tommie Poorbaugh Elise Porterfield Jenna Priebe Kimberly Quincy Kristin Rabe Casey Rahn Aiko Ranchoff Katelyn Randall Jaala Rankin Jennifer Rappuhn Margarita Ratcliff Lexi Rau Roshan Rayback Holly Regallo Terri Reynolds-Rogers Naneth Rhoads Hunter Richards Noah Richards Tracy Richardson Ian Richey Anne Ritala Miguel Rivera Chailyn Roberts Turkan Rollins Abigail Roper Soveyra Rosas Jacob Ross Leiah Rusher Cheyenne Russell Joseph Sadley Shawn Sanders Carol Sant Michelle Sara Hannah SchaeferChannel Scherer Dory Schneider Grace Schumacher Charles Severance Savannah Shanigan Rachel Shaver Zebediah Sheldon Kristin Shelton Riley Short Savanna Simmerman Madi Simonton Logan Simpson Whitney Simpson Haley Slack Jennifer Slatter Amber Sluss Katelyn Smith Abigail Smith Claire Smith Samuel Snively Bonnie Snyder Haley Soares Tori Soliday Livia Solis Hope Spargo Mary Spatafore Daniel Spencer Olivia Spiegel Amy Sprouse Christine Starkweather Lexi Stevenson Rebecca Stiner Ava Straub Kristina Sullivan Jenna Sutton Monroe Swain Lori Syverson Glenna Tate Lindsay Teamer Carly Thomas Ashley Thompson Nadezhda Tolmacheva Susan Townsend Melanie Trost Sarah Uschmann Mathew Uscola Lydia Vance Kiana Verplancke Rebecca Vickrey John Vinette Marilyn Vink Caleb Wagle Ripley Wakaliuk Natalie Waterhouse Taylor Whipple Megan Whitlatch Amy Williams Jessie Wilson Alexis Wood Krista Wood Jacob Worden Zoe Woyce Madalyn Yaskus McKenna Young Alexandra Zivotic Maisie Zugg Tricia Zuyus Jocelyn Zweifel

The MSHF offers scholarships in two categories: academic scholarships for students pursuing college degrees with health and human services majors, and vocational scholarships to assist students with the cost of training and certifications for jobs in health and human services fields. Scholarships are awarded based on how well each applicant meets the foundation’s eligibility criteria, including financial need and career choice. Applications for MSHF academic scholarships will be accepted again beginning in January 2023, but vocational scholarships are accepted year-round. More information can be found at healthymatsu.org.

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About Mat-Su Health Foundation: Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital to protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution. The MSHF mission is to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su and the tools it uses include grantmaking, convening of local partners, and policy change. The foundation’s work has resulted in significant improvements in systems that support the health of Mat-Su residents in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce development, transportation, housing, and senior services. More information is available at healthymatsu.org.