Mercy Health Foundation Southeast awards $26,000 in scholarships to healthcare students
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
JACKSON, Mo. (KBSI) — Twenty-six Southeast Missouri students pursuing careers in healthcare received a combined $26,000 in scholarships from Mercy Health Foundation Southeast.
The students were recognized Friday, Aug. 7, during the foundation’s 2026 Scholarship Awards Luncheon at the Jackson Civic Center.
Dr. Pamela Slaven-Lee, president of Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, addressed recipients, their families and donors during the event.
“Each of these scholarships bears a name, some for physicians, some for nurses, some for educators and some for families whose generosity created opportunities for others,” Slaven-Lee said.
Mandy Shelast, president of Mercy Southeast Communities, and Sue Ann Williams, administrator at Mercy Hospital Stoddard, presented certificates to the scholarship recipients. Darah Jirkovsky, executive director of Mercy Health Foundation Southeast, served as master of ceremonies.
According to the foundation, its scholarship program has awarded more than $1.2 million to more than 1,100 current and future healthcare workers since 1962.
The 2026 scholarship recipients are:
Maryville University
- Katelyn Sutterer — Ilena Aslin Scholarship
- Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Vanessa Bangert — Balsamo Family Scholarship
- Briana Bennett — O.D. Niswonger Scholarship
- Marolene Bowling — Mercy Health Foundation Southeast Auxiliary Scholarship
- Marki Coomer — Karen Crites Hendrickson Ed.D., RN, NEA-BC, Scholarship
- Tiarah Davis — Margaret Foster Roberts Scholarship
- Charlotte Eftink — Ronald James Schwent Nursing Scholarship
- Addison Engelen — Ronald James Schwent Nursing Scholarship
- Diana Fraire Frias — Hugh & Marietta Logan Scholarship
- Whitney Gaines — Dorothy Kies Penzel Scholarship
- Alexis Holden — Elda Haertling Scholarship
- Kylie Holloway — Nancy Ann Bray Scholarship
- Drieka Keller — Hutson Family Scholarship
- Alexis Musgrave — Jean Chapman, M.D., Scholarship
- Kaydence Presley — L.P. Maxwell, M.D., Nursing Scholarship
- Gabriel Thomas — James W. Wente Scholarship
- Tara Wibbenmeyer — Sheila R. Caskey, Ph.D., Scholarship
- Matthew Wilson — Hazel Harrison Strickler Scholarship
- Kiely Woodfin — Tom Welch Radiography Scholarship
Missouri State University
- Emily Barks — Mercy Health Foundation Southeast Scholarship
Southeast Missouri State University
- Kristin Anderson — SEMO Division I Athlete Scholarship
- Brianna Moore — SEMO Athletic Training Scholarship
- Addison Nichols — Polly DuVal Kinder Scholarship
- Sydnee Williams — SEMO River Campus Student Scholarship
University of Missouri
- Lawson Blocker — William and Martina Scott Scholarship
- Noah Crocker — Charlotte Black Sargent Scholarship
