HEALTHCARE SCHOLARSHIPS
Community Healthcare Scholars Program
In 2012 Yavapai College announced the creation of the largest scholarship program in its history when the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Prescott (JCF) provided full tuition and fee scholarships to 48 students in the nursing and radiologic technology programs over a five-year period. The first recipients of the Jewish Foundation Healthcare Scholarships began their professional studies at Yavapai College in August of 2012. Along the way other community organizations contributed funds to the program such that by the time the program ended in the spring of 2017, the scholarship program had successfully graduated 54 new healthcare professionals.
Those involved in the initial scholarship program recognized the importance of the program and the need to continue the program for another five years. The ‘call’ went out and six organizations stepped forward to fund another 63 students for Phase 2 of the program through the fall of 2021. The success and impact of the program along with the dedicated community partners has enabled Phase 3 and will fund yet another 70 students with the final cohort scheduled to graduate Spring 2025. The organizations are: Harold James Family Trust, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Prescott, Margret T. Morris Foundation, Prescott Radiologists, LLP, Yavapai College Foundation, Yavapai Regional Medical Center and The Fain Signature Group. Upon completion of Phase 3, these generous partners will have funded over $1 million in healthcare scholarships, nearing 200 recipients.
The scholarship program is designed to address two issues: (1) the expected shortage of healthcare professionals in coming years and (2) the inability of rural communities to effectively compete with urban communities for these highly valued professionals. To date, the program has achieved a 91% completion rate. Of those who have completed their training, 91% have stayed in the immediate area. The Community Healthcare Scholarship program is a community effort to identify, support, and train students who are committed to pursuing a healthcare career in our local community. As described by JCF president, David Hess, M.D.: “The program simultaneously supports education and healthcare, while ensuring a ‘pipeline’ of vital healthcare professionals for the local medical community.”
When asked about the Community Healthcare Scholars Program, Paul Kirchgraber, Director of Development at Yavapai College Foundation said: “The College is overwhelmed with the enthusiasm our community has shown in supporting these aspiring healthcare professionals. The generosity of these respected organizations is truly amazing and the provided scholarships relieve the financial burden for students allowing them to concentrate on their studies.”
2012
Inaugural class of Jewish Foundation Healthcare Scholars are from front row to back row and from left to right: Kristen Nelson and JoAnn Beltran; Sarah Little and Jennifer Jording; Mary Dennis and LaRee Gray; Michael Kean and Linda Thornbro; Michael McLeod and Stephanie Reinger; Jason Sewell and Raymond Trujilo.
2013
Jewish Foundation Healthcare Scholars for 2013 are: Front Row, from left to right: Carmen Dalton, Kayla Harkey, Carrie Anderson, Shellie Hormann, Saengduean Munoz, Ashley Carter, and Mandy Labrie. Back Row, from left to right: Ashley Long, Michelle Sartin, Crystal Baker, Lisa Salinas, Robert Paxton, Kimberly Stoker, and Andrew Meyers.
2014
Jewish Foundation Healthcare Scholars for 2014 are: Front Row, left to right: Starr Cecil, Jaime Quasula, Jenna Bourque, Bethany Sidebottom, Anna Alporque, Jennifer Beard. Back row, left to right: Joseph O’Reilly, Rebecca Brown Moore, Michelle Greaney, Karl Tenney, Katherine Haas, Paula Arellano, Heather Higgs, Edgar Vargas, Casey Higby
2015
Jewish Foundation Healthcare Scholars for 2015 are: Front Row, left to right: Danelle Hamilton, Jaime Henegar, Jennifer Ellis, Mindy Diehl, Meagan Martinez, Jessica Wallace, Jessie Libby, Ashley Rutherford. Back row, left to right: Monica Cook, Jessica Dickinson, Miranda Plueard, Harvey Kenyon, Daniel Fisher, Ishadanna Files, Shailee Jones, Robert Altmanshofer, Gabe Roybal, Tomas Medevielle.
2016
Community Healthcare Scholars for 2016 are: Front row, seated left to right, Lauren Hathorn; Amanda Denzine; Michelle Garcia; Azucena Mercado Martinez; Lisa Jedlow. Second row, standing left to right, Sarah Ireland; Heather Staten; Tracey Dawson; Evelin Astorga; Cate McCabe; Tiffanie Oium.
2017
Community Healthcare Scholars for 2017 are: Front row: Morgan Thornburg, Cossette Dark, Nicole Goldberger, Kolbie Tafoya, Teri Sanchez, Samantha Pendley. Back row: Charmaine McEvoy, Leah Barron, Timber McLain, Shannon Garrels, Jena Garner, Christy Delaney.
2018
Community Healthcare Scholars for 2018 are, from left to right, Front row: Alejandra Betancourt, Roberta McLain, Tayler Rezzonico, Melanie Tortorello, Angela Mazon, Hannah Haywood, Jovan Alaniz. Back row: Madison Martell, Jordan Lewis, Ryder Collins, Joel Marsh, Elizabeth Blake.
Fall 2019
Community Healthcare Scholars for Fall 2019 are: from left to right: Kevin Brown, Holly Mainhart, Jenna Baus, Sophia Virden, Kevin Eich, William Greenberg
Spring 2019
Community Healthcare Scholars for Spring 2019 are: Front row – Sierra Shumate, Rossen “Joy” Medevielle, Timothy Young, Kelli Schiller, Sarah Peakman; Back row – Evan Gasparich, Stephen Hanna, Zoe Papas, Madelline Robinson, Karla Bennett, Nissa Labhart, David Sullivan
2020
Community Healthcare Scholars for Spring 2020 are from right to left: Front: Amy Runo and Alma Toribio Salgado Middle: Abigail Vandevender and Samantha Paine Back: Jennifer Bergstad and Dr. David Hess ( JCF President)
2020
Community Healthcare Scholars for Fall 2020 are from right to left:
Top Row #1: Rebecca Holevar; Gianina Cheatham; Cassidy Cline
Row #2: Cameron Grimes-Bartling; Amanda Johnson; Diane Brown
Row #3: Michelle Woolsey; Rylie Backus; Emily Williams
Bottom Row #4: Mackenzie Sharon; Karissa Kottman; Flor Villavicencio
2021
Community Healthcare Scholars for Spring 2021 are from right to left:
Top Row: Mary Talosi, YC, Karen Leja, YC, Destiny Lewis
Middle Row: MaKenzie Baker, Danielle Hineman, Dr. David Hess, JCF, Dr. MaryLou Mercado, YC
Bottom Row: Derek Thron, Shayla Corkery, Jania Hughbanks
2021
Community Healthcare Scholars for Fall 2021 are from right to left front row: Cheyene Gabbard, Sarah Chidgey, Hailey Hanson, Nicole Welker
Back row from right: Cassandra Bailey, Elizabeth Adame, Megan Palmer, Sandra Hauptman, William Cooper, Guadalupe Ocampo
2021
Fall 2021 Radiology Tech – Rachael Guidetti (right), Kara Yazzie (left)
2022
Community Healthcare Scholars for Fall 2021 are from right to left front row: Samantha Imes, Sarah C. Gregory, Monet Newell, Jordan Rogers, Taidyme Mae, Jessica Guerrero, Esmeralda Ruiz Alvidrez, Quinci Youngblood
Back row from right: Shannon Mitchell, Leslie Bessert, Anthony Rossano, Ryan Allred
2022
Community Healthcare Scholars for Fall 2022 are from left to right:
Back row, left to right:
Samantha Imes, Sarah C. Gregory, Monet Newell, Jordan Rogers, Taidyme Mae, Jessica Guerrero, Esmeralda Ruiz Alvidrez, Quinci Youngblood
Front row, left to right:
Shannon Mitchell, Leslie Bessert, Anthony Rossano, Ryan Allred
2022
Community Healthcare Scholars for Spring 2022 are from left to right:
Shannon Mayotte, Ryan Urban, Hailey Mayhan, Katie Anderson, Peyton Velasco, Sada Hendricks
2023
Community Healthcare Scholars for Fall 2023 are from left to right:
Zachary McKeown, Tiffany Black, Vrindavan Silva, Peter Vlahakis, Margaret Gower, Shelby McCauley-Mayo, Melina Munro, Melissa Breazeale, Mariah Begaye (Rad Tech), Laura Prokopec, Danielle Zimmerle (Rad Tech) Not pictured – Jaycie Nelson
2024
CHS Spring Cohort – January 24, 2024
Johnathon Damschroder, Lacy Davenport, Cameron Murphy, Zoey Rawlings, Megan Young