Hopedale Medical Foundation Announces Scholarship Winners

Hopedale Medical Foundation proudly announces its 2018 scholarship winners.  Candidate selections were made by an independent panel of judges who reviewed applications from graduating seniors from Olympia, Hartsburg-Emden, Tremont, Dee-Mack, Midwest- Central and Delavan High Schools.

·         The $2,500 Founder’s Scholarship in honor of HMC’s founder, Dr. Lawrence Rossi, Sr., was awarded to Dee-Mack High School’s Jessica Wyse, daughter of Ken and Jenny Wyse.  Jessica plans to pursue a degree in nursing at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.    

·         The $1,000 Orville Augsburger Scholarship, named in honor of a founding Board member, was awarded to Joshua Duane Goetze, son of Theodore and Melissa Goetze.  Joshua, a student at Midwest Central High School, has chosen a career in physical therapy.  He will attend Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, in the fall.

·         The $1,000 David Eckhardt Memorial Scholarship, in honor of a dedicated HMC employee who passed away in 1974, was awarded to Reka Jean Jeckel, daughter of Scott and Ravonda Jeckel.  Reka is a student at Delavan High School, and will pursue a degree in mental health therapy at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

·         The $1,000 Neil Alford, Jr. (Agricultural) Memorial Scholarship in honor of Hopedale’s past mayor and HMC board member, was awarded to Mary Figge.  Mary is the daughter of Robert and Melinda Figge of rural Green Valley.  She is a student at Midwest Central High School, and will be pursuing a career in veterinary medicine at either Iowa State University or North Carolina State University.

·         The $1,000 Phyllis Martin Memorial Nursing Scholarship which honors a long-time HMC nurse, was awarded to Olympia High School senior Kristen Schuette, daughter of Brad and Andie Schuette of Atlanta.  Kristen will be pursuing a career in nursing at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, in the fall.

·         The $2,000 John Rossi Memorial Nursing Scholarship was awarded to Tremont High School’s Sydney Demirel Sumer, daughter of Volkan and Merry Sumer of Tremont.  Sydney plans to pursue a career in nursing after attending Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois.

·         The $1,000 Dorene Oehler Scholarship which honors HMC’s first Activities Director, was awarded to Lindsay Sweckard, daughter of Terri and Joe Sweckard of Mackinaw.  Lindsay, a student at Dee-Mack High School, has chosen a career in orthopedic surgery.  She plans to attend Northern Illinois University in the fall.

The Hopedale Medical Foundation congratulates these outstanding students and thanks the many applicants who participated this year.  Since its inception in 1980, The Foundation has awarded over $500,000 in healthcare and agricultural scholarships to local high school seniors and college freshmen.  Donations from the public are appreciated and are tax deductible as a charitable donation.  For more information, call Becky at (309) 449-4296.