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by Mercy's Kate Shupert
Key points:
- Mercy Health Foundation Southeast awarded $26,000 in scholarships to 26 students across Southeast Missouri during the 2026 Scholarship Awards Luncheon at the Jackson Civic Center.
- Since 1962, this scholarship program has awarded more than $1.2 million to local students, supporting the education of more than 1,100 current and future healthcare workers in the region.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, Mercy Health Foundation Southeast has awarded healthcare scholarships to 26 students across Southeast Missouri.
On Friday, Aug. 7, the foundation awarded $26,000 in scholarships to those 26 students who were honored for their accomplishments during the 2026 Scholarship Awards Luncheon at the Jackson Civic Center.
Dr. Pamela Slaven-Lee, president at Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, addressed the scholarship recipients, their families and donors, recognizing the importance of their path into healthcare.
“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,” Dr. Slaven-Lee said. “Those names represent lives that served and made a difference and now, they become connected to your own. Their legacy lives on through you in every patient you comfort, every family you ensure, every life you touch, every act of compassion, every act of excellence and every decision you will make with integrity. Wear the name of your scholarship with gratitude, honor it with excellence and reflect it through your character.”
Mandy Shelast, president of Mercy Southeast Communities, and Sue Ann Williams, administrator at Mercy Hospital Stoddard, presented each scholarship winner with their certificate. Darah Jirkovsky, executive director of Mercy Health Foundation Southeast, served as master of ceremonies.
Since 1962, this scholarship program has awarded more than $1.2 million to local students, supporting the education of more than 1,100 current and future healthcare workers in the region.
This year’s recipients include:
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
