Wasilla, Alaska – For the seventh year in a row, Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) increased the number and total dollar amount of academic scholarship awards. This week, 436 Mat-Su residents were awarded more than $2.6 million to pursue higher education in the fields of health and human services. Individual awards ranged from $2,000 to $9,000.

“The Mat-Su Borough is the fastest growing in Alaska, and our healthcare workforce must keep pace,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Ripley. “Our scholarship program supports local residents to become the health and human service providers of tomorrow – to ensure we have the talent and expertise to meet community needs. There is also tremendous career opportunity in these fields and a chance for all who pursue them to positively affect the lives of many.”

This year’s scholarship recipients are diverse in their interest areas and are at different points in their academic journey. The top three fields in pursuit are nursing, behavioral health, and allied health – which encompasses disciplines like physical therapy, pharmacy, and speech therapy. Many of the recipients have received Foundation scholarship assistance before, though 196 are new. Most are undergraduates (291), though 43 are soon graduating from high school and 102 are graduate students.

The Foundation has been awarding scholarships since 2008, and in the last five years has awarded 2,278 academic scholarships totaling more than $11 million.

Here are the 2024 MSHF academic scholarship recipients:

 

The Foundation offers scholarships in two categories: academic scholarships for students pursuing degrees within health and human services, and vocational scholarships to assist 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 2025; 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.