Posted: 7/2/03

Fairview Auxiliary awards scholarships to 16 area students

The Fairview Lakes Regional Auxiliary recently awarded scholarships totaling $15,700 to 16 area students pursuing careers in health care. This was the largest number of scholarships ever awarded by the Auxiliary.

ïLovelights scholarships: The winners of four $1,000 LoveLights Scholarships were: Elizabeth Wheatley, daughter of Edward and Joanne Wheatley of Wyoming; Britta Johnson, daughter of Peter and Peggy Johnson of Rush City; Peter Bahr, son of Frank and Sharon Bahr of Circle Pines; and Jacqueline Han, daughter of Jack and Amy Han of North Branch.

Wheatley is a student at Gustavus Adolphus College and has just completed her third year majoring in biology and English. She plans to enter the University of Minnesota at Duluth pursuing a career as a family practice physician specializing in pediatrics.

Johnson recently graduated from the Rush City High School, ranking fourth in a class of 63. She plans to attend Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, pursuing a career as an athletic trainer. She has a strong desire to work with kids of all ages and plans on returning to a rural community after her education is complete.

Bahr is a 2003 graduate of Centennial High School. He plans on pursuing a career in biomedical engineering at Bethel College in the fall.

Han recently graduated from the North Branch High School and plans on attending Winona State University pursuing a career as a pharmacist.

ïLeah Hillesheim Scholarships: Five $1,000 scholarships were presented in honor of former District Memorial Hospital Administrator Leah Hillesheim. The scholarships are funded by the Fairview Lakes Regional Auxiliary from monies raised through their annual Bike, Walk, and Roll event held annually in September. This yearís winners were Ashley Turgeon, daughter of Brad and Barb Turgeon of Forest Lake, Chad Bjorklund, son of Greg and Cheryl Bjorklund of Forest Lake, Joanne Wariakois North Branch, Jenna Coleman, the daughter of Jay and Renee Coleman of Forest Lake, and Jodi Chelberg, daughter of Steve Chelberg and Michelle Damman.

Turgeon graduated from the Forest Lake High School and will attend Bethel College pursuing a career in nursing.

Bjorklund plans to attend Hamline University pursuing a career as a surgeon.

Wariakois is a nursing assistant at Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center enrolled at Cambridge Community College and will be entering the nursing program to pursue a degree as a registered nurse.

Coleman is a student at the University of Minnesota pursuing a career as a registered nurse.

Chelberg just finished her sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin ñ Superior and will be transferring to the College of St. Scholastica to pursue a career in nursing.

ïCarl and Victoria Lindberg Scholarship: The Carl and Victoria Lindberg Scholarship is a $700 scholarship presented annually to a student from the Chisago Lakes, Wyoming, or North Branch area pursuing a career in health care. Preference is given to an adult returning to school. The Lindberg family sponsors this scholarship in memory of their parents, Carl and Victoria longtime residents of the Chisago Lakes community.

The winner of this yearís Carl and Victoria Lindberg Scholarship is Tessa Ratcliff who works as a certified nursing assistant at Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center and has been attending Century College to finish her general courses prior to entering the nursing program at the College of St. Catherine. She lives with her husband and children in North Branch.

ïCindy Lynch Memorial Scholarship: The Cindy Lynch Memorial Scholarships are awarded in memory of Cindy Lynch, a former R.N. at Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center. Two, $1,000 scholarships are awarded to adult, non-traditional students pursuing a career as an R.N. and/or to an R.N. returning to school to advance his/her career in nursing. This yearís winners are Jennifer Savino of Lindstrom and John Chauss of Forest Lake.

Savino lives with her husband Joseph and her two children in Lindstrom and is attending the University of Minnesota pursuing a career as a registered nurse.

Chauss lives with his wife Debra and six children in Forest Lake. He is a registered nurse in the Emergency Room at Fairview Lakes and is attending Bethel College pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in nursing with a career goal to become a nurse anesthetist.

ïFairview Lakes Regional Health Care Scholarships: This year two Fairview Lakes Regional Health Care Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 were presented to students pursuing a career in health care. Winners Iyunoluwa (Esther) Bankole, daughter of Elija and Elizabeth Bankole, and Katherine Leehy, daughter of Keith and Laurie Boyer of North Branch.

Bankole graduated from Centennial High School and plans to pursue a career as a pediatrician at the University of Minnesota. She was born and raised in Nigeria and had always wanted to be a doctor.

Leehy plans to attend the University of St. Thomas pursuing a career as a physician. She has always wanted to be a doctor and would like to return to a community like North Branch to practice. She further states that Dr. Paula Rehder of Fairview Lakes North Branch Clinic had a big influence in her decision to be a family practice physician.

ïDonald Ferguson Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship is presented by the Fairview Lakes Regional Auxiliary in memory of former administrator of Chisago Lakes Hospital, Donald Ferguson. This yearís winner is Alison Reed, daughter of Kent and Debra Reed of Center City. A recent graduate of Chisago Lakes High School plans to pursue a career as a physical therapist attending the University of Wisconsin ñ La Crosse.

ïVirginia Elizabeth Ferguson Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship is funded with proceeds of the annual Lindstrom Loppet 5K walk/run. The scholarship was started by Donald Ferguson, former administrator of Chisago Lakes Hospital, in memory of his beloved wife Virginia Elizabeth Ferguson. After Donald Fergusonís death the Auxiliary continued to fund the Virginia Elizabeth Ferguson Scholarship.

This yearís winner is John Clements, son of Rick and Joyce Frappier of Chisago City, who plans on pursuing a career as a nurse at North Hennepin Community College.

Fairview Lakesí Community Health Outreach Manager Betty Hestekin extended her thanks to the scholarship award committee members from across our health care region including: Glen and Mark Hanson, Kathy Brevig, Marlette Jensen, Mir and Shirley Verner, Kim Holmquist, and Mike Lynch. Auxiliary members of the selection committee included: Dee Winter, Char Gabrielson, Elaine Svec, Monica Tosteson, Mary Schumacher and Karen Alm.

Top of Page