Mat-Su Health Foundation awards over $1.7 million in scholarships to 419 Valley residents

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Health Foundation recently awarded $1,725,510 to 419 Mat-Su residents who are pursuing higher education for careers in health and human services.

Individual awards range from $500 to $7,000, according to a recent press release. The total number of scholarship recipients has dramatically increased over the last four years.

“The need to help local residents pursue the education and training necessary to fill critical healthcare roles is more important now than ever before,” said MSHF President and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Ripley. “These scholarships will help ensure there is an adequate workforce to meet the growing needs of our community.”

Applicants qualify for scholarships based on well they meet the foundation’s eligibility criteria, including financial need and career choice. The effects of COVID-19 on applicants’ educational journeys and goals were also taken into consideration. Ripley said the prevalence of the pandemic was particularly inspiring to see this year.

“We consider that huge a win and huge bright spot,” Ripley said.

The MSHF offers scholarships academic scholarships for students pursuing college degrees with health and human services majors. They also have scholarships for vocational scholarships to assist students with the cost of training and certifications for jobs in health and human services fields.

Applications for MSHF academic scholarships will be accepted again beginning in January 2022, but people can apply for vocational scholarships any time of the year. For more information, visit healthymatsu.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com

More information:

The Mat-Su Health Foundation’s 2021 academic scholarship recipients are listed below, starting with the six Mat-Su Scholars Awards and followed by all other students who received awards:

The Annie Demming Scholarship for a current high school student: Margaret Ludwig

The Vivian “Babe” Shaver Scholarship for a behavioral health major: Amity Condie

The Ya Ne Dah Ah /K’tl’egh’i Sukdu Scholarship for a graduate-level applicant: Megan Hoover

The Jessica Stevens Scholarship for a physician assistant major: Tristan Merchant

The Darlene Reed Scholarship for a nursing major: Casey Rahn

The George V. Larson, III Scholarship for a hospital administration or nonprofit management major: Steven Duncan