Mat-Su Health Foundation awards more than $2.6 million in scholarships to nearly 500 Mat-Su residents

The Mat-Su Health Foundation awarded 489 Mat-Su residents more than $2.6 million to pursue higher education in the fields of health and human services. Academic scholarships aim to grow the local health and human services workforce in Mat-Su by reducing students’ financial burdens. Individual awards ranged from $2,000 to $9,000 and will fund attendance at both in- and out-of-state institutions.

“As the Mat-Su remains the fastest growing borough in Alaska, it is critical that our healthcare workforce keeps pace with the community’s evolving needs,” said Elizabeth Ripley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mat-Su Health Foundation. “Our scholarship program plays a key role in preparing local residents to become the next generation of health and human service professionals. These careers not only offer strong employment prospects but also provide a meaningful opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of others.”

Since its inception in 2008, the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s scholarship program has continually adapted to meet evolving community needs. Unlike traditional merit-based models, this program is need-based, specifically designed to support students who might not otherwise have access to higher education. Now entering its 17th year, the program continues to create direct and meaningful impact—helping individuals pursue educational opportunities, fostering economic mobility, and strengthening the local health and human services workforce.

This year’s scholarship recipients reflect a broad range of educational goals and backgrounds. Some are just beginning their academic journeys as incoming college freshmen, while others are already active in their professional fields. A total of 264 students are renewing their scholarships to continue their studies in health and human services.

A strong commitment to Alaska’s future is evident: 207 of this year’s awardees—55%—will attend in-state institutions, with more than $1.6 million, or 61% of the total funding, going toward in-state tuition. Every dollar that the Mat-Su Health Foundation devotes to Mat-Su or Alaska has significant direct and indirect economic benefits, such as generating jobs and income across Mat-Su and Alaska, and supporting local businesses, government, and families.

The top areas of study among recipients are nursing, behavioral health, and allied health fields such as physical therapy, pharmacy, and speech-language pathology. In total, the Foundation is supporting 225 new scholarship recipients this year. The majority of all recipients are undergraduates (329), including 48 high school seniors preparing to enter college, along with 112 graduate students advancing their professional expertise.

In the last five years, MSHF has awarded 2,082 academic scholarships totaling more than $10 million.

The 2025 MSHF academic scholarship recipients:

Adams, Christine; Affinito, Tyneshia; Albano, Aemjae Sainty; Allen, Erin; Allen, Karina; Allen, Carissa; Alley, Rebekkah; Alverts, Lydia; Anderson-Berghoff, Denali; Anderstrom, Kayla; Anderzen, Rachel; Apau, Sabrina; Armagost, Penelope; Armstrong, Kelsea; Arneson, Natalie; Arneson, Marissa; Arnott, Fallon; Atwell, Deborah; Baca, Belle; Bacher, Amy; Backus, Kaija; Bailey, Meghan; Bailey, Nicholas; Bandy, Lynalice; Barlow, Ava; Barnes, Danielle; Barnhardt, Nyalie; Basner, Landon; Baxter, Clayton; Beachell, Marissa; Beck, Bronte; Beck, Eleni; Beebe, Leticia; Beer, Leah; Bekkedahl, Travisreed; Bell, Anna; Belliston, Tyler; Bena, Ashley; Bena, Avery; Ben-Judah, Kaylea; Bernstine, Clare; Berrigan, Rya; Billsborough, Madison; Biorn, Emma; Bird, Nona; Biswell, Colsie; Blake, Isabel; Bodolosky, Joshua; Boe, Kelci; Bohan, Christine; Boling, Kyndra; Borgeson, Megan; Boss, Jonathan; Bower, Angelus; Bradley, Elicia; Brandenburg, Azlynn; Breshears, Alice; Broadway Phillips, Maycee; Brookey, Melissa; Brown, Christopher; Brown, Cody; Brown, Talisa; Brown, Elizabeth; Brunnhoelzl, Braden; Bryant, Samantha; Buchanan, Heather; Buchanan, Tobias; Buckholz, Amber; Buist, Elijah; Bustillos, Monica; Cabales, Makailyn; Cabrera, Wences; Cabrera, Jonathan; Caldwell, Zanya; Callender, Sarah; Carle, Caprice; Carney, Amelia; Caruso, Aaliyah; Carver, Mariah; Catap, Maria Karylle; Catlett, Nicole; Chance, Avery; Chapman, Briana; Charland, Michelle; Charlie, Kelsey; Chavez, Allyson; Christensen, Elizabeth; Christensen, Justina; Christiansen, Larkin; Church, Joseph; Clark, Alaina; Clark, Sequoia; Clark, Kynedi; Clemens, Lily; Clifton, Kali; Clinch, Hannah; Coffman, Ryan; Coleman, Jongjin; Coleman, Cullan; Collins, Michelle; Colwell, Hope; Commack, Antonia; Compton, Angel; Cowin, Ashley; Crabtree, Drew; Craig, Amber; Crawford, Abigail; Cremeen, Emma; Cross, Raven; Cuddy, Jonathan; Danz, Rachel; Davidson, Kristen; Davidson, Noelle; DeGraffenried, Wendy; DeGraffenried, Jennifer; Delima, Ryley; Deloach, Eva; Dennis, Kristina; DeWall, Hunter; Dischner, Matthew; Ditmer, Caleb; Doland, Benjamin; Doss, Keirsten; Dowdy, Ni'a; Downard, Crystal; Droz, Monica; Duffield, Isabella; Duguid, Hannah; Duguid, Hudson; Duncombe, Caitlynn; Dunford, Kelly; Dunlap, Bethany; Edgar, Makenzie; Edgar, Amanda; Edwards, Crystal; Ehmann, Ayla; Ellsworth, Sarah; Elmer, Toni; Emmert, Ainsley; Ervin, Miranda; Estes, Cassidy; Everett, Katie; Ewing, Breanna; Eyre, Kassandra; Fairbanks, Lerin; Farris, Selene; Fiedler, Ema; Figgins, Jonathan; Foister, Kayla; Forbis, Mylanda; Forrester, Larrica; Fountain, Elizabeth; Fraker, Taylin; Fritts, Haley; Fuger-Bellamy, Marlee; Gabel, Zachary; Gales, Alyssa; Gallagher, Nolan; Gallagher, Brayden; Galloway, Kohen; Gardino, Madeline; Garver, Lyanna; Geary, Rachael; Geddes, Jonathan; Gelatt, Amelia; Gelatt, Destry; Gelatt, Emory; Gerasimyuk, Faith; Gibson, Walter; Gillum, Kayla; Godin, Amber; Golden, Jennifer; Goodwin, Bobbi; Goss, Allison; Grant, Shanelle; Gray, Jasmine; Gregory, John; Grey, Victoria; Hacker, Desiree; Hale, Ella; Halfacre, Drake; Hall, Taryn; Hall, Adam; Hall, Sarah; Hancey, Scott; Hancock Daugette, Danielle; Harris, Alana; Harris, Laura; Hass, Samantha; Haunold, Ciara; Hays, Avari; Heath, Natalia; Heinrichs, Sara; Hejl, Joshua; Helm, Carson; Henderson, Ben; Hennemann, Elisabeth; Hennemann, Rosalia; Henry, Britni; Herbert, Josephine; Herbert, Jessica; Hernandez, Sierra; Hervey, Amaya; Hickey, Dalton; Hickok, Jordyn; Hietala, Elise; Higgins, Isabella; Higgs, Brenda; Hill, Stephanie; Hill, Jasmine; Hoel, Mason; Hoffman, Alyssa; Hollis, Anya; Hoppe, Cherie; Houk, Jordan; Houser, Katey; Hunsaker, Sierra; Hutchins, Andie; Ibanga, Joyce; Ibanga, Glory; Ibarra Cortes, Diana; Imgrund, Esme; Ivacic, Francesca; Jean, Gregory; Jensen, James; Jernstrom, Gracie; Jinks-Andrulli, Rachel; Johnson, Megan; Johnson, Avery; Johnson, Brittanee; Johnson, Rebecca; Johnson, Rachael; Jones, Tisha; Jordan, Kelly; Jordan, Ella; Kanongataa, Kalina; Kara, Abby; Kaznakoff, Haileymae; Keller, Megan; Kelly, Owen; Ketah, Kenneth; Killebrew, Aryanna; King, Rachel; Kitchin, Rebekah; Kline, Lyndsey; Kolb, Julia; Kopsack, Brooklyn; Koroleva, Yulia; Kosht, Julia; Kraemer, Kelsey; Kramer, Aubrey; Kramp, Madison; Krasnesky, Kairstyn; Krostek Lorentzen, Isabella; Krull, Joshua; Kruzinski, Elizabeth; Kushin, Ashley; Kuzmin, Elena; Kyrisch, Kayla; Lake, Margaret; Lambert, Cadence; Langness, Emily; LaRousse, Emersyn; Larrabee, Bridget; Larsen, Michael; Lauger, Tyler; Lawson, Hailey; Lewis, Kalia; Lewis, Sherah; Lewis, Erik; Licht, Philip; Liebig, Kaitlyn; Liford-Jeffers, Melissa; Livingston, Keely; Loggins, Alisha; Long, Laurel; Lopez Conant Harrison, Rhyann; Loudon, Ellianna; Ludwig, Margaret; Luppino, Tawnya; Mackey, Kyra; Mackie-Cifuni, Jenifer; Magee, Carter; Mahoney, Jacob; Mahoney, Halie; Maki, Sophie; Mallory, Macaila; Manco, Christina; Marks, Bryant; Marshall, Erica; Marshall, Lavar; Martin, Adrienne; Martinez, Ella; Matthews, Ruby; Matthews, Junayzha; Maxson, Denielle; McAdams, Christina; McCallum, Breanna; McCarthy, Autumn; McCarthy, David; McCarthy, Sophia; McGehee, Virginia; McKnight, Lindsey; McLean, Trevor; Meehan, Lindsey; Michael, Neve; Michels, Lily; Mills-Price, Christian; Mitchell, Ruthie; Moffat, Cali; Moffet, Joshua; Monroe, Connor; Moore, Ashley; Morris, Madalyn; Mukaabya, Malachi; Mullins, Joseph; Mullins, Colman; Neiser, Giselle; Nelson, Taylor; Nispel, Katelynn; Nordwall, Chloe; Norfleet, MacKenzie; Norman, Gracie; Ohler, Danette; Olson, Rachel; Ortega, Sadie; Ortega, Madison; Ortega, Olivia; Oswald, Alyssa; Owens, Emily; Oxford-Bennett, Jared; Pace, Garrett; Page, Matthew; Pair, Madison; Palenske, Avery; Palmer, Tara; Palmer, Lena; Palmer, Sarah; Panruk, Rebecca; Pasa, Anika; Patterson, David; Patzke, Matthew; Paul, Susan; Payton, Emily; Pehrson, Kyra; Perrien, Chyanne; Perry, Cameron; Peter, Alexandra; Pettit, Abby; Phillips, Aiyana; Phillips, Skye; Pickard, Kristen; Pickett, Angel-Skie; Pilny, Shana; Plantier, Tara; Player, Alexis; Polston, Ashley; Pomrenke, Jonathan; Porter, Laura; Putnam, Kiera; Ramos-Tanner, Jonathan; Rasmus, Jenna; Reich, Lucas; Reyes, Mackenzie; Rhein, Jessa; Richardson, Madeline; Richardson, Rebecca; Ridlon, Elaine; Rindal, Megan; Rindal, Taylor; Robert, Zalah; Roberts, Chailyn; Roberts, Megan; Robinson, Morgan; Robinson, Garey; Robinson, Brooklyn; Rockefeller, Josie; Rogers, Megan; Roper, Esther; Rosas, Soveyra; Ross, Jacob; Ross, Matthew; Royer, Molly; Rudd, Aaron; Rufkahr, Nicole; Russell, Cheyenne; Ryan, Daphni; Safarik, Julia; Sanchez, Alyssa; Sanders, Shawn; Saunders, Jacob; Sawyer, Tucker; Schachle, Violet; Schiewe, Sabrina; Schoening, Ashley; Schorr, Kiana; Schumacher, Candyce; Scott, Maia; Scudder, Amy; Scully, Charli; Seals, Christina; Seidl, Kaelynn; Seims, Mackenzie; Semonin, Arianna; Sessom, Lily; Severance, Charles; Shanigan, Savannah; Shaw, Evie; Shea, Lucy; Shelton, Lenzee; Shields, Hunter; Shoemake, Emma; Short, Riley; Shuey, Wyndsor; Sickler, Kortni; Simmons, Jake; Sipos, Sonya; Sliwinski, Jiaping; Smith, Taylor; Smith, Abigail; Smith, Aria; Smith, Riley; Smith, Claire; Smith, Melody; Snow-Zaloudek, Hailey; Solari, Lisa; Soliday, Ivera; Soliday, Tori; Solis, Livia; Sommer, Martha; Spaic, Sofija; Spears, Tara; Sperry, Mattison; St Laurent, Jessica; Stanford, Isha; Stavenjord, Brooke; Stetson, Cadynce; Still, Isabell; Suarez, Mya; Sullivan, Kyle; Swain, Maureen; Tanner, Jennifer; Tantanella, Kimberly; Thatcher, Choltira; Thomas, Pamela; Thomas-Vasquez, Kristin; Townsend, Susan; Tresham, Erica; Trost, Emmy; Unger, Heidi; Uschmann, Catherine; Uschmann, Sarah; Vallely, Dawn; Vargason, Haley; Vav, Octavia; Velander, Erin; Venema, Rieken; Venema, Jacob; Vesel, Kiana; Villalpando, Jeffrey; Villastrigo, Grace; Vincent, Jeffrey; Vinsang, Kayla; Wadleigh, Stephanie; Wallace, Julia; Wallstrum, Mason; Ward, Samantha; Ward, Jillian; Waterhouse, Jake; Webb, Emily; Weeks, Hannah; Weiss, Taylee; Wheeler, Alexander; White, Genevieve; Whitted, Anna; Wicks, Brooklyn; Willison, Clara; Willoughby, Charles; Winiasz, Jonathan; Winter, Danielle; Workman, Cassandra; Wright, Baylor; Xiong, Sheng; Yaskus, Madalyn; Zellmer, Xia; Zimnawoda, Lily; Zugg, Maisie

The Foundation offers scholarships in two categories: academic scholarships for students pursuing degrees within health and human services, and vocational scholarships to assist with the cost of training and certifications for jobs in health and human services fields. Scholarships are awarded based on how well each applicant meets the Foundation’s eligibility criteria, including financial need and career choice. Applications for MSHF academic scholarships will be accepted again beginning in January 2026; vocational scholarships are accepted year-round. More information can be found at healthymatsu.org.