If any area high school seniors are pursuing a healthcare-related degree in college this next fall, they are sure welcome to apply for our West River Healthcare Services Foundation “High School Senior Scholarships” by April 1st. Current Seniors can be pursuing a one-year, two-year or four+ year healthcare-related college degree or certificate. Letters, posters and applications for the WRHS Foundation Scholarship Program have already been sent to sixteen area high school counselors/scholarship coordinators in Hettinger, Scranton, Bowman, New England, Mott, Elgin (Grant County), Richardton, Dickinson High, Dickinson Trinity, South Heart and Belfield, ND; Baker, MT; Lemmon, Bison, Buffalo and McIntosh, SD. Of course, any graduating seniors wishing to acquire a healthcare-related degree and interested in applying, can either check with their local high school guidance counselor/scholarship coordinator or go online at wrhs.com/giving/application to find the required application materials.
By the way, did you hear the due date for scholarship applications to be submitted is April 1st? The address to submit scholarship applications is: WRHS Foundation, Attn: Ted Uecker, 1000 Highway 12, Hettinger, ND, 58639. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the scholarship application or need information, please call Ted Uecker direct at the WRHS Foundation office at 701-567-3666. We expect to receive the following from interested area senior graduates: 1) completed application, 2) high school transcript, 3) two letters of recommendation, 4) college letter of acceptance, and 5) 300 word minimum essay; describing your personal, educational and career goals; why you chose them and how you expect to achieve them; describe yourself in terms of how you see yourself and how you think others perceive you; and conclude by explaining why you would be a good candidate for this scholarship. Our hopes are to receive all applications by April 1st; review and score all applications by April 17th; make final selections by May 1st; notify recipients and applicants by May 5th; and notify area high schools/media by May 12th. Ambitious we are!
All applications are reviewed and scored by five WRHS Foundation Scholarship Committee Members. They utilize a 100 point scoring system with up to 40 points for GPA/Academics (performance in science courses given extra consideration); up to 30 points for letters of recommendation and Involvement in school/community; and up to 30 points for essay. All scores are then reviewed by the WRHS Selection Committee and recipients are selected.
We have three family memorials establishing scholarships “In Memory” of Joyce Stippich, Irma Steinmetz and Lynn Feist. We also offer our Auxiliary Legacy Scholarships and General WRHS Foundation Scholarships. The Congregational Church Memorial Scholarship Fund is also available to our WRHS Foundation to help us fund scholarships for aspiring students.
The Joyce Stippich Memorial Scholarship is offered annually to area high school graduating seniors who are pursuing a Nursing degree, plan to be a full-time college student and are eventually interested in a nursing career at West River Health Services or Western Horizons Living Centers. The Stippich Family selects their own scholarship recipient(s). This scholarship amount has ranged from $500-$1,000 for each recipient.
The Irma Steinmetz Memorial Scholarship is offered annually to area high school graduating seniors who are pursuing a full-time healthcare-related degree. The WRHS Foundation Selection Committee determines the recipient(s). This scholarship amount has ranged from $500-$1,000 each.
The Lynn Feist Memorial Scholarship is offered annually to graduating high school seniors pursuing a full-time healthcare-related degree, with preference given to Lemmon, Bison, McIntosh and Faith, SD area seniors. The WRHS Foundation Selection Committee makes the selection. This scholarship amount has usually been $500.
The Auxiliary Legacy Scholarship is given annually to continue the WRHS Auxiliary’s Legacy, which began in 1950. This scholarship is for area high school graduating seniors pursuing a full-time, healthcare-related degree. This scholarship is funded from the WRHS Foundation’s “Perennial Plant Sale,” held each year in May. The WRHS Foundation Selection Committee determines the recipient(s), which have received from $500-$1,000 each.
The WRHS Foundation Scholarships are given annually to graduating high school seniors pursuing a full-time healthcare-related degree. The WRHS Foundation Selection Committee selects the recipient(s). These scholarships are funded from donor gifts to our WRHS Foundation Scholarship Fund. These scholarship amounts usually range from $500-$1,000 each.
The Denim Day Scholarship has been given annually to a graduating high school senior whose parent(s) are employed at WRHS/WHLC. The student does not have to be pursuing a healthcare-related degree. The student must be either a part-time or full-time college student. The WRHS Foundation Selection Committee selects the recipient of this scholarship, which is funded from WRHS/WHLC employees gifting $1 every other Friday, so they can wear jeans to work. This scholarship is usually $500.
We at the WRHS Foundation are proud to offer this terrific Scholarship Program for our service- area graduating seniors. If you need more information, please call Ted Uecker at 701-567-3666 or go to the wrhs.com/giving/application website. April 1st is the deadline!
Thank you to the families, donors and area high school counselors/scholarship coordinators for helping us make this possible. And also, to the students for their bravery in applying – we desperately need you back here to help us heal our citizens. Onward!
By Ted Uecker, WRHS Foundation