Fort HealthCare Announces 2025 Scholarship Award Recipients

JEFFERSON COUNTY – Fort HealthCare is pleased to announce awarding almost $60,000 in scholarships to 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 Fort HealthCare’s 2025 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 scholarships of $2,000 each were awarded to:
  • Brooke Hartwig
  • Eli Koehler

• High School Student Applications – Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school students pursuing a career in the healthcare field.
  Three scholarships of $2,000 each were awarded to:
  • Ashlyn Enke
  • Iris Harstford
  • Breleigh Mengel

• 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 scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded to:
  • Maritza Alvarado
  • Summer Semrau

• 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.
  One scholarship of $2,000 was awarded to:
  • Joanna Guevera

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 scholarships of $2,000 each were awarded to:

• Jessica Besch
• Kaylee Farrar
• Matthew Ketterhagen
• Lucien Pomazak
• Chloe Smith

Fort Memorial Hospital Foundation Scholarships Award Winners

General Scholarship

Four scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded to:

• Kateri Kawleski
• Matthew Ketterhagen
• Savannah Vind
• Hadley Wendorff

• 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.
  Nine scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded to:
  • Haley Bristol
  • Christian Crabtree
  • Kaylee Farrar
  • Iris Harstford
  • Grecia Hernandez
  • Gabrielle Kirley
  • Ella Last
  • Belle Peterson
  • Madison Stine

• Jacobson Scholarships – The Jacobson Scholarships are awarded to a Jefferson High School graduate and to a continuing student with at least one semester completed in a healthcare field, with priority given to students on the RN track.

Two scholarships of $500 and $1,000 each were awarded to:

• Grecia Hernandez — $500
• Dawn Hove — $1,000

• 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.
  Five scholarships of $500 and $1,000 each were awarded to:
  • Brooke Hartwig — $1,000
  • Olivia Riemer — $1,000
  • Jenna Rudolph — $1,000
  • Jadyn Splittgerber — $500
  • Juanita Tarp — $1,000

• 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.
  Two scholarships of $1,250 each were awarded to:
  • Jadyn Splittgerber
  • Juanita Tarp

• 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.
  One scholarship of $1,000 was awarded to:
  • Abigail Frame

• 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 2024-2025 school year.
  Ten scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded to:
  • Maritza Alvarado
  • Danielle Ellenson
  • Abigail Frame
  • Dawn Hove
  • Kaeli Ketter
  • Eli Koehler
  • Olivia Riemer
  • Jenna Rudolph
  • Danielle Spesard
  • Jadyn Splittgerber

• 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.
  One scholarship of $1,640 was awarded to:
  • Maritza Alvarado

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.