Eleven of the 2024 Allina Health Foundation scholarship recipients. Four types of scholarships were awarded by the foundation to area college students pursing degrees in nursing or healthcare related field. L to R Front Row – Kya Krzmarzick, Elizabeth Bianchi, Joshua Wenninger, Halle Meier and Jaelyn Batzlaff L to R Back Row – Tyler Walls, Melissa Dreckman, Justin Bruns, Olivia Christensen, Adasyn Fairbairn and Anna Schoo

NEW ULM — Allina Health Foundation benefitting New Ulm Medical Center recently awarded 35 scholarships to area college students pursing a degree in nursing or a healthcare related field.

The scholarships awarded total $175,000 and were made possible through donations from Charlotte West Anderson, Dr. Marc and Lori Burkhart, Carol Ryberg and Kay Witt.

“It is a significant investment in healthcare education,” NUMC director of operations Carisa Buegler said. “It is probably the largest investment in healthcare for this region.”

The goal of the scholarship is to expand the health care workforce in the Brown County and New Ulm area. The scholarship helps any local student considering entering the health care field pursue education and hopefully remain in the community after graduation.

Buegler said it is a benefit to keep health care workers in the area whether they choose to work at NUMC, an area nursing home or as an at home provider.

Allina Health Foundation awards the scholarships on an annual basis. Applications are accepted by the foundation with a volunteer committee selecting the recipients during the summer.

The Carol Ryberg NP/PA for $7,500 was given to Justin Bruns (Nurse Practitioner); the Carl L. Ryberg BSN Scholarship for $5,000 was given to Elizabeth Bianchi (Nursing).

The Dr. Marc and Lori Burkhart Scholarship for $5,000 was awarded to Madison Suess (Medical School).

The Kay Witt Scholarship for $2,500 was awarded to Olivia Christensen (Nursing).

The majority of the awards were from the Charlotte West Anderson Scholarship program. Each of these scholarships is $5,000. Ten of the Charlotte Wester Anderson Scholarship winners were new recipients and 21 were renewal scholarships.

The new recipients of the Charlotte West Anderson Scholarship are: Jaelyn Batzlaff (Cardiac Sonography), Melissa Dreckman (Healthcare Management), Jenna Ebert (Nursing), Adasyn Fairbairn (Nursing), Alexis Henningson (Nursing), Halle Meier (Nursing), Laura Moldan (Nursing), Jalivia Richert (Diagnostic Medical Sonography), Kaitlyn Vogel (Osteopathic Medicine) and Mogen Winkelmann (Nursing).

The 21 students receiving a scholarship renewal are: Ellie Bute (Occupational Therapy), Madyson Digmann (Nursing), Annie Edwards (Nursing), Kaiya Gieseke (Occupational Therapy), Samantha Guldan (Orthotics & Prosthetics), Gabriella Helget (Pharmacy), Julia Helget (Speech Communication Sciences and Disorders), Abigail Hoffmann (Nursing), Jessica Petersen Kral (Physical Therapy), Kya Krzmarzick (Speech-Language Pathologist), McKenzie Lauwagie (Biomedical Sciences), Sarah Preisinger (Occupational Therapy), Morgan Ranweiler (Nursing), Hannah Marzinske Roux (Physician Assistant), Mark Schommer (Biomechanics), Anna Schoo (Medical School), Lauren Schueler (Occupational Therapy), Kyle Strate (Medical School), Tyler Walls (Chiropractic), Emily Weiss (Pharmacy) and 21 Joshua Wenninger (Exercise Science).

Charlotte West Anderson, for whom the scholarship was named, died in 2020. Buegler said she was a teacher with a strong passion for education. She was also grateful to NUMC and the healthcare service provided. The scholarship was set up to honor both education and healthcare.

Buegler said Anderson’s scholarship program is one of the most significant and has enough funds to provide scholarships for at least the next 10 years. Those interested in applying are encouraged to apply next spring. The application deadline is in April.