West River Health Services Foundation, the fundraising and development arm for West River Health Services and Western Horizons Living Centers, has made their selections for their annual “College Upperclassmen Scholarships.” This year, the WRHS Board of Directors approved $6,000 from the General Fund, to be distributed to the top-scoring and most compelling “College Upperclassmen,” applicants, pursuing a healthcare-related degree.
Local Hettinger High School graduate, Brianna Robinson topped the list of all sixteen applications and received a $1,500 scholarship. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at the University of Mary - Fargo Campus, where she hopes to be finished April, 2024. Another local Hettinger High graduate, Alyssa Andress, received a $1,000 scholarship from the WRHS Foundation. She plans to utilize those funds toward her Dickinson State University Nursing degree, which she will receive in May, 2024. Quinn Mellmer, a former Scranton High School graduate, also received a $1,000 scholarship toward her Nursing degree studies at the University of Mary. She plans to complete her studies in April, 2024.
Other area “College Upperclassmen” receiving $1,000 scholarships from the WRHS Foundation included: Hailee Kuske from New England High School, who is working on her Radiologic Technology degree at Minot State University. She will be completed shortly in May, 2023. Emily Dinius, also a New England High graduate, is pursuing her Nursing degree at University of Jamestown, where she plans to be finished May, 2024.
Our last “College Upperclassman” to receive a $500 scholarship was Amber Johnson. She attends the Paramedic Technician Program at Bismarck State University, where she plans to complete her degree soon, in August, 2023.
All together, the WRHS Foundation received 16 terrific applications. Five current WRHS Foundation Board of Directors scored all of these applications via a 100 point scoring system based on their completed application, a copy of their transcripts, two letters of recommendation and a 300-500 word essay. The applicants GPA/Academics accounted for 40 possible points; letters of recommendation and school/community involvement up to 30 points; and their essay, up to 40 points.
The final scores for each applicant were compiled and reviewed by CEO Alyson Kornele, Dr. Mark Kristy and Ted Uecker, Fund Development Officer. “This year, we had a deep and talented group of applicants. We always wish we had more scholarship funds to give out, as there were definitely more terrific candidates than scholarship dollars. But in the same light, four years ago, we did not even offer ‘College Upperclassmen Scholarships.’ So we are feeling really good about our selections. We hope these bright young students will consider applying for jobs with us upon graduation. In fact, they might even want to consider an internship or part time job with us this summer,” said Uecker.
By Ted Uecker, WRHS Foundation