Central Oregon students honored with scholarships for health care careers

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- St. Charles Health System and the Cascades East Area Health Education Center have awarded scholarships to several high school seniors and college students from across Central Oregon who are pursuing careers in health care.

Awards are based on students’ grade point averages and activities, but the most compelling factor is their commitment to returning to a rural location upon completion of their education.

Several of the students have participated in St. Charles’ job shadowing program and credit it with inspiring them to pursue a health care career.

“In this difficult time, it is more important than ever to recognize the efforts and commitment of these students to pursue a career in health care,” said Cascades East AHEC Director Debbie Cole. “We look forward to their returning to Central Oregon as valuable partners in our community’s health.”

Deschutes County scholarship winners include:

• Bend High School students Eleni Edwards and Rachel Hanson, who will each receive $500 from Cascades East AHEC
• Mountain View High School students Titus Schulz, McKenna Smith and Marli Von Heideken, who will each be awarded $1,000 from Cascades East AHEC
• Redmond High School student Brooklyn Thompson and Central Christian School student Eren Wynne, who will each receive $500 from the Redmond Medical Staff

Crook County High school students awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Cascades East AHEC include:

• Lily Cooper
• Rebecca Cooper
• Kara Hurt
• Jillian Nguyen
• Carmen Parmelee
• Miranda Vargas
• Patsy Wagner

Crook County college students awarded a scholarship include:

• Shane Kessi and Gwyneth Ptomey, who are each receiving a scholarship from the Mary Ann Thomas Hosier endowment. This scholarship is awarded to exceptional students pursuing a career in nursing
• Esmerelda Ortiz Ventura, who will receive $1,000 from Cascades East AHEC to continue her studies in radiology at Oregon Institute of Technology

Jefferson County college students awarded a scholarship include:

• Jordan Gemelas, a fourth-year medical student at OHSU, who will receive $4,000 from Cascades East AHEC
• Catylynn Duff, a third-year student and track athlete at the College of Idaho, who will receive $3,000 from the St. Charles Foundation-Jefferson County fund
• Kaliyah Iverson, a student at Portland State University, who will receive $1,000 from Cascades East AHEC

Culver High School students awarded a scholarship include:

• Felicia Belvoir, who will receive $1,000 from the St. Charles Foundation-Jefferson County fund
• Johan Jaimes, who will receive $1,000 from the Redmond Medical Staff
• Janae Rhen, who will receive $500 from Cascades East AHEC
• Karyssa Pettersen, who will receive the $2,000 Mary Ann Thomas Hosier scholarship for nursing

Madras High School students awarded a scholarship include:

• Kelly Huang, who will receive $2,000 from the St. Charles Foundation-Jefferson County fund
• Kelsey Olivera, who will receive $2,000 from Cascades East AHEC
• Brianna Carvajal and Elizabeth Egoavil, who will each receive $1,500 from the St. Charles Foundation-Jefferson County fund; Egoavil will also receive $500 from Cascades East AHEC
• Treyvon Easterling will receive $1,000 from the St. Charles Foundation-Jefferson County fund

Klamath County scholarship winners include:

• Larken Ackley from Gilchrist High School, who will receive a $1,000 Cascades East AHEC scholarship
• Yulisa Alonzo from Lost River High School, who will receive a $2,000 Mary Ann Thomas Hosier scholarship to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse