Over 100 Iowans wanting to advance their health care education to work in long-term care received over $300,000 in scholarships from the Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) Foundation last week. Scholarship recipients include current long-term care employees, as well as high school students, veterans and Iowans in rural communities wanting to join the health care profession. Scholarships provide for the cost of a variety of health care and leadership programs to equip health care workers with the skills they need to work in long-term care.
“With Iowa’s senior population increasing and a growing demand for quality long-term care services, the IHCA Foundation is committed to developing skilled, caring professionals to meet these needs,” said IHCA Foundation Program Director Natalie Thompson. “Our 2024 scholarship programs, generously supported by donors, aim to empower motivated individuals to pursue careers in long-term care. The overwhelming interest among applicants is inspiring, and we commend this year’s scholarship recipients for their dedication to this noble profession. Having worked in various health care settings and receiving lifesaving care myself, I hold the utmost respect and gratitude for all health care professionals. Your work is truly invaluable, and we look forward to seeing the positive difference you will undoubtedly make in the lives of many.”
More than 240 applications were received for this year’s scholarships. Scholarship applications were evaluated by the IHCA Foundation Board of Directors based upon the applicant’s experience, recommendations and future educational and career goals in long-term care. This year’s IHCA Foundation scholarship winners include:
John W. & Kimberly D. Grubb Registered Nurse (RN) Scholarship Recipients
This $4,000 scholarship is made possible by the John R. and Zelda Z. Grubb Charitable Foundation and is for employees of IHCA/ICAL/ICHC member organizations pursuing an RN degree. Sixty-one scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:
- Heather Aguilera, Prairie Vista Village
- Kirsten Albright, Pleasantview
- Chelsea Apel, Chautauqua Guest Home #3
- Aubree Arthur, St. Francis Manor, Hammond Center and Seeland Park
- Brynn Bass, Thomas Rest Haven
- Jennifer Benefiel, Karen Acres Healthcare Center
- Grace Blozvich, The Views of Marion
- Katelynn Brown, Humboldt County Memorial Hospital
- Katie Christensen, Kennybrook Village
- Jofelle Corona, Western Home Communities
- Azlynn Cota, Wellington Place
- Bailey Dodson, Kensington
- KayLee Donnelly, Accura Healthcare of Shenandoah
- Carlee Fleming, Monticello Nursing & Rehab Center
- Madison Forsyth, The Views of Marion
- Katie Gescheidler, Green Hills Retirement Community
- Danielle Glissman, Humboldt County Memorial Hospital
- Rosalee Gruhn, Hiawatha Care Center
- Sophia Halifax, Spurgeon Manor
- Rachel Halstrum, Windsor Manor Indianola
- Lily Hammer, Accura Healthcare of Ogden
- Calista Harbaugh, Harmony Waterloo
- Abigail Haynes, Strawberry Point Lutheran Home Community
- Tiffany Helle, Northcrest Community
- Aireal Hemsted, Atrium Village
- Sara Hoffman, Bethany life
- Erika Holtz, Good Neighbor Society
- Hannah Jones, Good Shepherd Health Center
- Hallie Kemp, Hawkeye Care Center of Dubuque
- Cameron Kent, Stonehill Communities
- Erica King, Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake
- Julianne Laning, Kingsley Specialty Care
- Alayna Link, Westview Acres Care Center
- Kendra Lowe, St. Luke Lutheran Nursing Home
- Jacqueline Lucas, Pleasantview
- Elizabeth Magsino, Spurgeon Manor
- Derick Mbacham, Care Initiatives
- Madison Ollendieck, Evans Senior Living Community
- Daniel Pakala, Western Home Communities
- Kayla Paulson, Spurgeon Manor
- Paul Perez, Spurgeon Manor
- Patty Jo Petree, Southeast Iowa Medical Center – Klein Center
- Mykenah Pothoff, Pinnacle Memory Care
- Kennady Rathjen, Rose Haven Nursing Home
- Aviana Rice-Miller, Family Care Solutions
- Addison Roll, Eldora Specialty Care
- Rebekah Rose, Methodist Manor Retirement Community
- Paige Ryan, Kennybrook Village
- Kasey Sandbulte, Palo Alto County Hospital NF & HH
- Erin Schieltz, Madrid Home Communities
- Maria Schockemhoehl, Stonehill Communities
- Abby Smith, Anchor Homes Inc.
- Eyon Steffensen, Exira Care Center
- Abby Stout, Prairie View Home Inn
- Francoise Swedi, Stonehill Communities
- Brionna Vasey, Scottish Rite Park
- Jazmyn Vazquez, Northcrest Community
- Brandy Watson, Karen Acres Healthcare Center
- Aubrey White, Karen Acres Healthcare Center
- Adelle Wolfswinkel, Prairie View Home Inn
- Lucero Zalabowski, Accura Healthcare of Milford
John W. & Kimberly D. Grubb Registered Nurse (RN) Endowment Fund Scholarship Recipient
This $3,000 scholarship is made possible by the John R. and Zelda Z. Grubb Charitable Foundation Endowment Fund and is for an employee of an IHCA/ICAL/ICHC member organization pursuing an RN degree. One scholarship was awarded to the following recipient:
- Hannah Eastlick, Cedar Ridge Village
Linda Juckette Family Veteran and Rural Scholarship Recipients
This $2,000 scholarship is made possible by the Linda Juckette Family Gift Fund and is for Iowans residing in a rural Iowa county or having served in the military and interested in pursuing nursing or health care administration programs or certification programs for dietary management, activities, social services or reimbursement professionals in Iowa, with the goal of working in long‐term care. Five scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:
- Maren Buckingham, Decatur County
- April Huckleberry, Army National Guard
- Keatan Pfantz, Marshall County
- Katy “Sylvie” Ricketts, Des Moines County
- Kayla Stever, Allamakee County
MolinaCares High School Scholarship Recipients
This $2,000 scholarship, made possible by The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation (MolinaCares), is for Iowa high school seniors enrolled in a certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), associate of science in nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program upon graduation from high school, and interested in a future career in long-term care. Nine scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:
- Madelyn Anderson, Emmetsburg High School
- Presley Anderson, George Washington High School
- Olivia Gardner, Saint Albert Catholic
- Joslynn McGilligan, Waterloo West High School
- Emma Myers, South Central Calhoun High School
- Destinia Perez-Pena, Waukee Northwest High School
- Halie Rath, Kuemper Catholic High School
- Chloe Sawyer, East Marshall Senior High School
- Minasey Tewelde, Perry High School High School
Care Initiatives Director of Nursing (DON) Leadership Scholarship Recipients
This scholarship is for is for directors of nursing (DONs), assistant directors of nursing (ADONs) or registered nurses (RNs) interested in pursuing an ADON or DON position with an IHCA/ICAL/ICHC member organization, and is made possible by Care Initiatives. Twelve scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:
- Vickie Bender, Pleasantview
- Melissa Brandt, Summit House Retirement Community
- Kira Christensen, Sibley Specialty Care
- Tami Dale, Bethany Lutheran Home/Bethany Heights AL
- Sarah Miller, Lone Tree Health Care Center/Pioneer Park
- Penelope Mohr, Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center
- Lisa Odland, Arbor Springs of West Des Moines
- Rebecca Pacha, MGM Healthcare
- Ashcelyn Ricken, Zearing Health Care
- Michon Scott, Cottage Grove Place
- Audrey Swanson, Luther Park Community
- Stacy Willard, Humboldt County Memorial Hospital
Iowa Total Care Executive Health Care Leadership Institute Recipients
This $1,500 scholarship is made possible by Iowa Total Care and is for leaders at IHCA member organizations interested in attending the 2024/2025 IHCA/ICAL/ICHC Executive Health Care Leadership Institute. Nine scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:
- Jacob Bates, Western Home Communities
- Jenny Blackmore, Care Initiatives
- Kristina Boos, New Hampton Nursing and Rehab Center
- Tyson Branscomb, Harmony Cedar Rapids
- Keegan Donelan, Care Initiatives
- Melinda Haley, Summit Pointe Senior Living Community
- Lindsey Johnston, Whispering Willow Assisted Living and Memory Care
- Tereni Kepler, Rose Haven Nursing Home
- Kayla Radack, CopperWood at Prairie Trail
IHCA Member Employee Scholarship Recipients
This $1,500 scholarship is for IHCA/ICAL/ICHC member organization employees pursuing a nursing, health care administration or physical or occupational therapy training program and is made possible by Iowa Society of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, IHCA Districts and IHCA Nurse Connect. Thirteen scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:
- Sheida Andrea, Deerfield Retirement Community
- Annabelle Chavez, University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
- Jade Faris-Piere, Franklin General Hospital LTC
- Taylor Hogan, Solon Retirement Village
- Benjamin Holman, Luther Park Community
- Megan Huntley, Good Samaritan Society – Manson
- Andrea Johnson, The Views of Marion
- Evangelina Klein, Westwood Specialty Care
- Madison Koehn, English Valley Nursing Care Center
- Rachel Miner, Ruthven Community Care Center
- Juan Mora, Methodist Manor Retirement Community
- Molli Ruble, Iowa Home Care – Ottumwa
- Tiffany Welton, Oak Park Place of Dubuque