The 11 Allina Health Foundation Scholarship Recipients for 2024. The Foundation awarded four scholarships to area college students pursuing a degree in nursing or a health-related field. Front row from left to right – Kya Krzmarzick, Elizabeth Bianchi, Joshua Wenninger, Halle Meier, Jaelyn Batzlaff Back row from left to right – Tyler Walls, Melissa Dreckman, Justin Bruns, Olivia Christensen, Adasyn Fairbairn, Anna Schoo
NEW ULM — The Allina Health Foundation, which supports New Ulm Medical Center, recently awarded scholarships to 35 area college students who are pursuing degrees in nursing or a health-related field.
The total amount of scholarships awarded was $175,000 and was made possible through donations from Charlotte West Anderson, Dr. and Lori Burkhart, Carol Reiberg and Kay Witt.
“This is a significant investment in medical education,” said NUMC Director of Operations Carisa Bugler, “probably the largest investment in health care in the region.”
The goal of this scholarship is to increase the health care workforce in the Brown County and New Ulm area. The scholarship will assist local students considering entering the health care field to continue their education and remain in the area after graduation.
Bugler said whether health care workers choose to work at NUMC, a local nursing home or in home care, staying in the community is beneficial.
The Allina Health Foundation awards scholarships annually. Applications are accepted by the Foundation and a volunteer committee selects the recipients over the summer.
The $7,500 Carol Ryberg NP/PA Scholarship was awarded to Justin Bruns (Nurse) and the $5,000 Carl L. Ryberg BSN Scholarship was awarded to Elizabeth Bianchi (Nursing).
The $5,000 Dr. Marc and Lori Burkhart Scholarship was awarded to Madison Suess (School of Medicine).
The Kay Witt Scholarship of $2,500 was awarded to Olivia Christensen (Nursing).
The majority of the awards came from the Charlotte West Anderson Scholarship Program. These scholarships are $5,000 each. Ten of the Charlotte West Anderson Scholarship winners were new awardees and 21 were renewal scholarship winners.
The new Charlotte West Anderson Scholarship recipients are Jaylin Butzlaff (cardiac ultrasound), Melissa Dreckman (healthcare administration), Jenna Ebert (nursing), Adasyn Fairbairn (nursing), Alexis Henningson (nursing), Halle Meyer (nursing), Laura Moldan (nursing), Jalivia Richert (diagnostic medical ultrasound), Kaitlyn Vogel (osteopathic medicine) and Morgen Winkelman (nursing).
The 21 students receiving renewed scholarships are Ellie Bute (Occupational Therapy), Madyson Digmann (Nursing), Annie Edwards (Nursing), Kaiya Gieseke (Occupational Therapy), Samantha Guldan (Orthotics and Prosthetics), Gabriella Helget (Pharmacy), Julia Helget (Speech-Language Pathology), Abigail Hoffmann (Nursing), Jessica Petersen Kral (Physical Therapy), Kya Krzmarzick (Speech-Language Pathology), McKenzie Lauwagie (Biomedical Sciences), Sarah Preisinger (Occupational Therapy), Morgan Ranweiler (Nursing), Hannah Marzinske Roux (Physician Assistant), Mark Schommer (Biomechanics), Anna Schoo (Medicine), Lauren Schueler (Occupational Therapy), Kyle Strate (Medicine), Tyler Walls (Chiropractic) and Emily Weiss (Pharmacy).
The scholarship's namesake, Charlotte West Anderson, passed away in 2020. Bugler said she was a teacher with a strong passion for education. She also had an appreciation for NUMC and the medical services it provides. The scholarship was established to honor both education and medical care.
Bugler said Anderson's scholarship program is one of its most important and has enough funding to provide scholarships for at least the next 10 years. Those interested in applying are encouraged to apply next spring. The application deadline is in April.
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