More than $2.1 million in scholarships awarded to 424 local residents

Wasilla, Alaska – For the sixth year in a row, Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) increased the number of and total dollar amount of academic scholarship awards. This week, 424 Mat-Su residents were awarded more than $2.1 million to pursue higher education in the fields of health and human services. Individual awards ranged from $1,000 to $7,000.

“Like the rest of Alaska, Mat-Su is facing a shortage of qualified healthcare workers. The difference is that Mat-Su’s population is also growing, creating more demand for services closer to home,” said MSHF President and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Ripley. “Our scholarship program provides the cornerstone to Healthy Futures, our workforce development focus area. These scholarships help local residents pay for college and training that leads to living wage healthcare jobs here at home while also increasing access to quality healthcare services for Mat-Su residents.”

The Foundation has been awarding scholarships since 2008, and in the last five years has awarded 1,842 academic scholarships totaling more than $8.5 million.

The 2023 MSHF academic scholarship recipients are listed below:

Abell, Julia
Adams, Kayla
Adams, David T.
Adams, Christine H.
Albright, Sherie M.
Alexia, Patricia N.
Alverts, Lydia
Ancheta, Kylie T.
Andersen, Jessica L.
Andrushko, Amaliya
Armstrong, Kelsea R.
Atwell, Deborah J.
Baca, Belle E.
Backus, Kaija A.
Bailey, Meghan E.
Baird, Abbie
Barnes, Danielle
Barnhardt, Nyalie
Beachell, Marissa L.
Becerra, Lavina J.
Beebe, Leticia
Beer, Leah
Bell, Anna D.
Beltz, Alex T.
Bena, Avery
Bena, Ashley
Benedict, Ryan D.
Berrigan, Rya W.
Bird, Nona R.
Blake, Brittany
Blanning, Sarah
Bocast, William
Bontrager, Shiann N.
Borgeson, Megan
Borrayo, River D.
Boss, Jonathan E.
Bowden, Stacey
Bowker, Braden J.
Bowman, Jillian
Bowman, Josiah J.
Bradley, Elicia Y.
Brandenburg, Azlynn L.
Brokaw, Bethany
Brooks, Kristie L.
Brown, Paula S.
Brown, Contessa D.
Brown, Christopher R.
Brown, Charlotte
Brown, Isabella C.
Buchanan, Heather D.
Buchanan, Rebecca O.
Bustillos, Monica R.
Butler, Alexandra
Cabales, Darian J.
Cabales, Makailyn R.
Cabrera, Maria Theresa V.
Cadieux, Alexander J.
Caldwell, Zanya K.
Carlson, Kailey J.
Carlton, Alexandra
Carney, Amelia
Caruso, Aaliyah N.
Catlett, Nicole M.
Chance, Avery N.
Charland, Michelle L.
Cheyette, Anja
Christensen, Justina L.
Cizek, Emily J.
Claus, Kellie K.
Clay, Arora N.
Clements, Stefani K.
Clinch, Hannah
Colberg, Jake
Colee, Emily
Coleman, Cullan B.
Collier, Jadyn R.
Compton, Brooke N.
Compton, Angel R.
Conklin, Jessica
Coombs, Sabrina
Copeland, Nicholas
Cremeen, Emma
Cruz, Kayla M.
Cypress, Savannah M.
Davidson, Noelle J.
DeBauche, Rachel
Deishl, Alyna L.
Delima, Ryley
Dennis, Kristina
Dickey, Corina M.
Dischner, Matthew
Doland, Benjamin
Dolman, Chloe
Doty, Adrianna
Douthit, Samantha R.
Dowell, Katrina R.
Duenas, Emily
Duffield, Isabella
Duguid, Hannah L.
Duncan, Steven F.
Dunford, Kelly K.
Edmondson, Ashley A.
Edwards, Jaleie
Ehmann, Ayla L.
Eldridge, Tyler L.
Elrod, Tara
Enderson-Roop, Jena L.
Engelbrecht, Raven
Ervin, Miranda
Essman, Andrew D.
Estes, Cassidy M.
Ewing, Breanna
Ewing, Brett M.
Farris, Faith M.
Farris, Selene
Feuilles, Vincent A.
Fields, Jennifer J.
Flaming, Corbin R.
Fleckenstein, Jewel E.
Freeman, Pamela L.
Fritts, Haley
Fuger-Bellamy, Marlee
Gallagher, Rett
Garwick, Brianna L.
Gelineau, Heather L.
Gerasimyuk, Faith
Gerasimyuk, Oleg O.
Germain, Katherine R.
Gibbs, Kassandra Y.
Gimm, Maia M.
Godfrey, Sarah L.
Godin, Amber M.
Gonzalez, Emily
Goss, Allison
Grant, Katrina J.
Grant, Shanelle
Greenwood, Nichole A.
Gregory, John
Grimes, Jennifer
Grubb, Amber S.
Grubbs, Frank
Hacker, Desiree P.
Hall, Abigail
Hall, Menda M.
Hamman, Grace M.
Hancey, Mason S.
Harris, Alana M.
Harrison, Caitlyn
Haskin, Travis D.
Haug, Sydney
Heath, Joehanna
Heath, Natalia L.
Henderson, Ben A.
Herndon, Libieann F.
Herseim, Alison
Hill, Jasmine
Holbrook, Mary K.
Holland, Hailey A.
Holston, Briana
Hoover, Myah B.
Horcsik, Judith F.
Houser, Katey
Howard, Devan
Howell-West, Tracia M.
Hracha, Tristan
Huckleberry, Michealla D.
Hughes, Stewart
Hughes, Carrie
Hull, Mikaela M.
Hull, Cynthia
Hull, Erin
Humenik, Emily D.
Hupfer, Michelle
Hushower, Tobin J.
Hutchins, Amanda M.
Imgrund, Esme
James, Faith
James-Wallace, Karolyn M.
John, Emma M.
Johnson, Rachael
Johnson, Megan K.
Johnston, Emily M.
Jones-Young, Rhiannon H.
Jordan, Ella M.
Kakaruk, Angela
Kanongataa, Kalina A.
Kantrowitz, Carly
Kara, Abby J.
Keena, Jaime M.
Keller, Brooklyn J.
Keller, Megan M.
Kelly, Vaughn W.
Kennedy, Madison T.
Kessler, Paige M.
Killebrew, Aryanna B.
Knagin, Karissa
Knight, Justin A.
Kolb, Julia G.
Kopsack, Brooklyn D.
Kosht, Julia E.
Kraemer, Kelsey M.
Kramer, Aubrey K.
Krasnesky, Kairstyn
Krueger, Chami
Krull, Joshua
Kuzina, Ethan E.
Lake, Rima J.
Laret, Sally
Lauger, Tyler
Lawson, Hailey
Layton, Jared N.
Leadbetter, Allison D.
Leigh, Whitney
Lein, Janice
Leonard, Carol G.
Leonard, Tiffany Michelle S.
Leshchinskiy, Angela
Leuthold, Roma Lyn
Lewis, Alexandria
Link, Emily M.
Livingston, Keely
Livingston, Marin J.
Lochner, Alexis L.
Loggins, Alisha A.
Loggins, Benjamin
Long, Laurel
Lopez Conant Harrison, Rhyann T.
Lorang, Cindy M.
Ludwig, Margaret L.
Ludwig, Paul B.
Lytle, Gregory A.
Madel, Skylar
Madruga, Vanessa L.
Mahoney, Jacob W.
Mangione, Angelo C.
Marie, Kailah M.
Marsden, Ashley B.
Martin, Adrienne
Maxwell, Emily K.
Mayer, Nathan
Mayo, Brandi L.
McAdams, Christina L.
McCarthy, Sophia
McCarthy, David
McClure, Carrie M.
McDonald, Madison
McDonell, Gene A.
McDowell, Kimberly
McHenry, Laura
Mckown, Joslyn E.
McMullian, Suzanne D.
McNinch, Alexandra N.
Menard, Harrison L.
Merrill, Autumn M.
Metcalf, Alyssa M.
Michael, Neve M.
Minnick-Whaley, Gracie
Mitchell, Carol L.
Molina, Desiree C.
Monear, Josey
Monroe, Connor W.
Montanez, Emily S.
Moritz, Noel C.
Morris, Mariah M.
Morrison, Emily
Mukaabya, Malachi J.
Myrvold, Ruth C.
Nardini, Axyle T.
Neiser, Giselle B.
Nelson, Taylor J.
Newcity, Colleen M.
Nicholi, Larissa
Nielsen, Sommer
Norman, Gracie L.
Odenthal, Cariera L.
Oliver, Joseph D.
Olson, Kristine E.
Olson, Ronnie
Ortiz, Lydia R.
Osterkamp Bernowski, Rebecca
Oswald, Alyssa R.
Pair, Madison
Palmer, Lena M.
Pasa, Anika P.
Patrimonio-Raval, Rio-Morgan
Payton, Emily K.
Pehrson, Kyra
Phillips, Skye
Pickard, Kristen
Pickett, Angel-Skie M.
Piersma, Grace J.
Pilipaka, Leana
Pirtle, Ashly
Polston, Ashley A.
Porterfield, Elise M.
Priebe, Jenna
Provo, Emilie
Quincy, Kimberly
Rabe, Kristin
Rafferty, Ella O.
Rahn, Casey N.
Ranchoff, Aiko
Ratcliff, Margarita A.
Rayback, Roshan S.
Read, Aden C.
Regallo, Holly M.
Reintsma, Josie J.
Reynolds-Rogers, Terri S.
Rhoads, Naneth T.
Rhodes, Brittany J.
Richards, Noah T.
Richardson, Madeline
Richardson, Micaiah J.
Richey, Ian J.
Rindal, Megan
Ritala, Anne L.
Rivera, Miguel
Robert, Zalah J.
Roberts, Chailyn
Robinson, Brooklyn
Roper, Esther
Roper, Abigail
Rosas, Soveyra
Ross, Jacob M.
Rusher, Leiah K.
Russell, Cheyenne M.
Sadley, Danielle
Sanchez, Joshua D.
Sanchez, Brian
Sanchez, Malinda
Sandall, Cassandra
Sanders, Shawn M.
Sanderson, Kelsey
Schachle, Michael C.
Schorr, Kiana D.
Schweitzer, Teresa L.
Severance, Charles
Shaffer, Stacy
Shaw, Josey
Shelley, Lindsey K.
Short, Riley A.
Shuey, Wyndsor
Simmerman, Savanna L.
Simonton, Madi L.
Sinenko, Tanya
Skube, Drew T.
Slack, Haley L.
Slatter, Jennifer J.
Sliwinski, Jiaping C.
Smith, Melody
Smith, Abigail K.
Smith, Claire C.
Snively, Samuel R.
Soares, Haley R.
Solari, Lisa R.
Soliday, Tori
Solis, Livia J.
Spatafore, Mary
Spear, Sabrina E.
Spear, Jenelle
Spencer, Daniel
Sperry, Mattison E.
Spiegel, Olivia D.
Sprouse, Amy R.
Starkweather, Christine M.
Stavenjord, Brooke
Stenger, Colton D.
Stevenson, Lexi
Stone, Gabrielle L.
Straub, Ava J.
Strolle, Kirsten M.
Sullivan, Kristina D.
Swain, Maureen K.
Swain, Audrey G.
Swain, Monroe M.
Syverson, Lori L.
Tapey, Tasha
Tate, Glenna
Taylor, Micah J.
Thomas, Carly L.
Thomas-Vasquez, Kristin
Thompson, Allison
Thompson, Racquel
Tira, Aiyslin
Townsend, Susan M.
Trimmer, Rebecca A.
Underwood, Tristan
Utkin, Kelly
Venema, Rieken P.
Venema, Jacob
Verley, Alysia
Verplancke, Kiana B.
Vincent, Jeffrey S.
Vinette, John
Walker, Carol J.
Ward, Samantha M.
Ward, Jillian
Wargo, Mary
Warta, Paul
Waterhouse, Natalie A.
Weiss, Taylee L.
Wheeler, Alexander
White, Annalee V.
White, Jennifer M.
Whitlatch, Megan J.
Whitmire-Polis, April D.
Wicks, Brooklyn R.
Widman, Brett
Williams, Amy L.
Williams, Teyonnah S.
Winn, Victoria A.
Winter, Danielle R.
Worden, Jacob A.
Woyce, Zoe L.
Wright, Casey M.
Wright, Alexia P.
Yaskus, Madalyn
Zellmer, Xia Y.
Zimin, Rana M.
Zivotic, Alexandra
Zugg, Maisie G.
Zuyus, Raegan M.
Zuyus, Tricia
Zweifel, Jocelyn J.

The Foundation 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 2024, 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.

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