Fort HealthCare Announces 2024 Scholarship Award Recipients

JEFFERSON COUNTY – Fort HealthCare is pleased to announce awarding $70,000 in scholarships for students pursuing academic degrees in career fields that support Fort HealthCare’s Mission. Each of the following scholarships is made possible by generous donations in recognition of the important roles in healthcare to maintain the quality of life we enjoy in the communities we serve. Thank you to each of our benefactors and the hundreds of people who donated honorary and memorial contributions to make these scholarships possible. Congratulations to each of Fort HealthCare’s 2024 scholarship award recipients!

Fort HealthCare Partners Scholarships Award Winners

• Health Career Advancing Scholarship – Health Careers Advancing Education Scholarships are awarded to candidates who currently hold a degree or certification in a healthcare field and are now enrolled in a course of study that leads to an advanced degree in a healthcare field.
  Two $1500 awards went to:
  • Eli Koehler
  • Juanita Tarp

• High School Student Applications – Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school students pursuing a career in the healthcare field.
  Three $1500 awards went to:
  • Emily Boucher
  • Michaela Kennedy
  • Alison Werning

• Health Career Scholarship – Associate Degree Program – Scholarship awards are available to students who are currently enrolled in a two-year program in a healthcare field.
  Two $1000 awards went to:
  • Tiffany Pernat
  • Etheine Yang

• Woody Finn Memorial Scholarship – In memory of Woody Finn, a long-time dedicated volunteer of Fort Memorial Hospital, a scholarship is awarded to a student pursuing a career in healthcare who serves regularly in a volunteer role.
  A $1500 award went to:
  • Payton Schmidt

Fort Memorial Hospital Medical Staff Scholarships Award Winners

Fort HealthCare medical staff sponsors several scholarships in memory of Dr. Robert Handeyside. Graduating seniors, who reside or attend school in the Fort HealthCare service area and have chosen a career in the healthcare field are eligible for this scholarship.

Five $2,000 awards went to:

• Emily Boucher
• Langdon Eske
• Ava Kleinfeldt
• Alayna Riddell
• Payton Schmidt

Fort Memorial Hospital Foundation Scholarships Award Winners

• General Scholarship
  A $1,000 general scholarship award went to:
  • Lauren Dempsey

• Scott W. Hulstein Scholarship – The Scott W. Hulstein Scholarship was set up by his parents, Gerrit and Rebecca Hulstein, in his memory. Scholarships are awarded to a high school senior or an undergraduate currently enrolled at a college or technical school pursuing a degree in the healthcare field.
  Thirteen awards totaling $11,500 (ranging from $500-$1000) went to:
  • Andrea Alcala
  • Maritza Alvarado
  • Mara Brown
  • Rebecca Christ
  • Natalie Grulke
  • Joselyn Hack
  • Michaela Kennedy
  • Kassandra Kloss
  • Alayna Riddell
  • Rachel Simonson
  • Stella Van Zanten
  • Alison Werning
  • Morgan Zastrow

• Cynthia McKinley Kolasinski Scholarship – Cynthia McKinley Kolasinski Scholarships will be awarded to students studying medicine or nursing at an accredited institution of higher learning. Per the trust established by Ms. Kolasinski, preference will be given to medical students beyond their second year and nursing students beyond their first year.
  Fourteen $1000 awards went to:
  • Zane Apkarian
  • Katrina Breaker
  • Makenna Croson
  • Abigail Frame
  • Amanda Godlewski
  • Brooke Hartwig
  • Eli Koehler
  • Tiffany Pernat
  • Danielle Spesard
  • Jadyn Splittgerber
  • Peighton Strasburg
  • Juanita Tarp
  • Yvette Torres
  • Etheine Yang

• Estelle Stinson Chase & Peter A. Chase Scholarship – The Estelle Stinson Chase & Peter A. Chase Scholarship awards Fort HealthCare employees who are studying nursing (LPN, ADN, BSN Completion, MSN) at an accredited college or university. Consideration is given to the applicant’s service and involvement in the community and Fort HealthCare, excluding job related activities.
  Seven awards ranging from $1000-$1500 went to:
  • Maritza Alvarado
  • Abigail Frame
  • Eli Koehler
  • Tiffany Perant
  • Jadyn Splittgerber
  • Juanita Tarp
  • Carrigan Walter

• Dr. Donald and Barbara Williams Scholarship – This Scholarship was established by Dr. Donald and Barbara Williams in recognition of the important role Fort HealthCare employees play in providing excellent care for the people we serve. Applicants must be an employee in good standing at Fort HealthCare and pursuing education in a healthcare field.
  Five $750 awards went to:
  • Brielle Johnson
  • Natalie Krueger
  • Allison Notbohm
  • Emily Stedman
  • Alexis Viola

• Wanda L. Draeger Nursing Scholarship – This scholarship was established in memory of Wanda L. Draeger, RN, who was an OB nurse at Fort HealthCare for 45 years. Applicants must be currently enrolled and have completed at least one year in an accredited nursing school.
  Four $500 awards went to:
  • Kate Duddeck
  • Peighton Strasburg
  • Yvette Torres
  • Etheine Yang

• Arthur and Nancy Nesbitt Nursing Scholarship – This scholarship was established by Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt in appreciation of the excellent care provided by Fort HealthCare’s nurses. Applicants must be employees of Fort HealthCare in good standing and enrolled in an accredited nursing program during the 2023-2024 school year.
  Fourteen awards ranging from $1000-$1250 went to:
  • Maritza Alvarado
  • Zane Apkarian
  • Abigail Frame
  • Amanda Godlewski
  • Dawn Hove
  • Eli Koehler
  • Tiffany Pernat
  • Danielle Spesard
  • Jadyn Splittgerber
  • Peighton Strasburg
  • Juanita Tarp
  • Yvette Torres
  • Carrigan Walter
  • Etheine Yang

• Florence Falk Nursing Scholarship – This scholarship was established in memory of Florence Falk, LPN, who was an OB nurse at Fort HealthCare for 50 years. Applicants must be an employee in good standing at Fort HealthCare or a graduate of a high school in Fort HealthCare’s primary service area (Cambridge, Fort Atkinson, Helenville, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Palmyra, Sullivan, or Whitewater). Applicants must also be currently enrolled in an accredited nursing school and in their second year of nursing school or beyond.
  Four $250 awards went to:
  • Zane Apkarian
  • Abigail Frame
  • Peighton Strasburg
  • Etheine Yang

Students interested in applying for Fort HealthCare scholarships can complete an application online at FortHealthCare.com/Scholarships beginning in December each year. Applications are due by the following March 1st. Completing one application makes you eligible for each scholarship applicable to the degree you are pursuing. Applicants must be residents from Cambridge, Fort Atkinson, Helenville, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Palmyra, Sullivan, or Whitewater, or employees at Fort HealthCare. While grade point average is important, it is not always the primary consideration.