UHD Foundation

Healthcare Scholarship Awards for Area Seniors

The UHD Foundation values an educated workforce and encourages people pursuing careers in healthcare. The Foundation offers a $1,000 scholarship to area high school seniors who have been accepted into an accredited academic program leading to a career in healthcare. Seniors from six area high schools in UHD’s service area are eligible: Blue Earth Area; Fairmont; Granada-Huntley-East Chain; North Iowa (Buffalo Center); North Union (Armstrong, IA); and United South Central (Wells).

Applications for the 2022-2023 school year will be available in February.

The UHD Foundation Board has selected eight recipients for its Healthcare Scholarship Award Program for the 2021-2022 school year. Scholarships of $1,000 were offered to seniors from six area high schools. The Foundation received a total of 29 applications; all students were very high performers in academics, athletics, community service and volunteerism, and the arts. Winners were selected using several considerations, including a desire to return and serve their home community after completing their degree and training. The 2022 recipients are: 

• Blue Earth Area High School: Callena Ferguson, Pre-Med with an Integrative Medicine emphasis, University of Arizona-Tucson; and Kylie Rosenau, Biochemistry/Pre-Med, South Dakota State University
• Fairmont Jr/Sr High School: Alec Reutzel, Biology/Pre-Med, Augustana University; and Carissa Saxton, Rehabilitation Science/Pre-Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
• Granda Huntley East Chain High School: Merissa Cartwright, Nursing, South Dakota State University
• North Iowa High School (Buffalo Center, IA): Leah Kramersmeier, Radiology Tech, Iowa Central Community College
• North Union High School (Armstrong, IA): Rachel Henricksen, Nursing, Northwestern College
• United South Central High School (Wells, MN): Skylar Niebuhr, Nursing, University of North Dakota

To be eligible, seniors must be accepted into an accredited academic program and planning to major in a healthcare field. Applicants were required to write an essay expressing their educational and career goals and influences on career choice, provide verification of current grade point average and a letter of recommendation from a non-family member. (The award is not given until verification of the first successful semester of college/university.)

The eight recipients were selected by the Scholarship Committee* of the UHD Foundation board, which is comprised of these community representatives and UHD board and staff members:

·         Lars Bierly* – Blue Earth, MN 

·         Ronda Dahl, RN* – Elmore, MN 

·         Millicent Hanson – Winnebago, MN 

·         Doug Johanson – Winnebago, MN 

·         Aaron Johnson, MD – Blue Earth, MN 

·         Cory Milbrandt – Blue Earth, MN 

·         Mark Warmka* – Easton, MN 

·         Eric Wegner – Wells, MN  

·         Rick Ash, UHD CEO 

·         Paula Kabe*, UHD Foundation Coordinator and Administration Executive Assistant 

The Foundation intends to expand the scholarship program to additional area high schools in coming years.

For more information about the scholarship program and its eligibility requirements, or to donate to the scholarship fund, please contact the UHD Foundation at 507-526-3273. The application period for the 2021-2022 school year is now closed.