SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― The board of directors of Regional West Foundation is pleased to announce that $66,000 in scholarships has been awarded by the Foundation to 33 students who are enrolled at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Nursing-West Nebraska Division.

“Regional West Foundation’s longstanding tradition of supporting nursing education has paved the way for many students to become nurses. We continue to be impressed with the dedication Regional West has to the nursing students that attend the UNMC College of Nursing-West Nebraska Division. We are proud to live in a community that is so supportive of nursing,” said Kelly Betts, EdD, APRN, CNE, UNMC Assistant Dean of College of Nursing-Scottsbluff Division.

Cherry Cooper was awarded a $10,000 Regional West Foundation Legacy Scholarship and Becky Adams was awarded the $10,000 Phyllis Gerke Nursing Scholarship.

Foundation Legacy Scholarships are available to students who are enrolled at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Nursing-West Nebraska Division, Western Nebraska Community College, and the Regional West School of Radiologic Technology. The scholarships range from $2,000 to $10,000. Applicants must have a 3.2 GPA or higher and plan to pursue employment in Regional West’s service area.

Phyllis Gerke Scholarships are available to nursing students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing-West Nebraska Division or Western Nebraska Community College. Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA or higher and plan to pursue employment in Regional West’s service area.

Cherokee Frahm-Thayer, Brenna Mitchell-Martinez, and Taylor Gollas were each awarded $5,000 Phyllis Gerke Nursing Scholarships. Two nursing students, Mikayla Butler and Paula Houston, were awarded $2,500 Phyllis Gerke Scholarships.

The Foundation awarded 26 additional $1,000 scholarships to students enrolled at the UNMC College of Nursing.

“The scholarships provided by the Regional West Foundation are vital to many of these students, many of whom may not be able to attend nursing school without the support. The scholarships have been a very important part of our recruitment process as well. Thank you to all the donors,” said Karen Schledewitz, MAEd, UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Student Services Coordinator.

“The Foundation is honored to manage the memorial scholarships for numerous families from throughout the region,” said Julie Marshall, Regional West Foundation director of development. “All of these students are wonderful examples of the high quality students we have in the region that will someday be exceptional leaders in the health care industry. We are proud to help support them through their education journey.”

For more information about Regional West Foundation scholarships or to make a donation, contact the Foundation office at 308.630.2244, email Julie.Marshall@rwhs.org, or visit RegionalWestFoundation.org.

Regional West Foundation raises, manages, and distributes funds to enhance the services, programs, and projects of Regional West Health Services. The Foundation supports projects to strengthen health care services that are essential to the quality and growth of our local medical community, including new technology, building improvements, and health education scholarships.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.