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Parkview Health Foundation awards $104,000 in scholarships to 34 students pursuing healthcare careers

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – July 15, 2026 – The Parkview Health Foundation has awarded 34 scholarships totaling $104,000 to students and healthcare professionals across Parkview Health’s service area for 2026.

The scholarships support individuals pursuing careers or advancing their education in nursing, emergency medical services, sports medicine and other healthcare fields. Awards are made each spring through donor-funded scholarship programs established by generous individuals, families, volunteers and former healthcare leaders who believed deeply in advancing compassionate care through education. Scholarships are also funded through employee giving campaigns, volunteer organizations, memorial funds and hospital foundation support across the Parkview Health system.

2026 Sue Johnson Scholarship winner Jamie Smith, RN

Recipients – recent high school graduates and others currently enrolled in post-secondary institutions – represent communities across northern Indiana and the greater Parkview Health service area, including Allen, Noble, DeKalb, Huntington, Whitley, Wabash, LaGrange, Miami and Cass counties.

“These scholarships are an investment in the future of healthcare across our region,” said Denise Andorfer, director, Parkview Health Foundation. “Through the generosity of donors and community supporters, we are able to help students and healthcare professionals continue their education and strengthen care for the communities we serve.”

Scholarship recipients for 2026 include:

Albright-Gemlick Scholarship Program, awarded by Parkview Sports Medicine (PSM)

  • Samantha Aselage, Bishop Dwenger High School
  • McKale Bottles, West Noble High School
  • Madison Caldwell, Peru High School
  • Hannah Clark, Concordia Lutheran High School
  • Caitlyn Mead, Wayne Trace High School
  • Wijdan Mohammedain, North Side High School
  • Laney Musall, North Miami High School
  • Brayden Rice, Northfield High School (winner of Albright-Gemlick’s Carter Fleck Memorial Scholarship)

Karen Denney Nursing Scholarship

  • Johanna Carpenter, East Noble High School  

Jill Dryer Scholarship

  • Vickie Cook, RN, Parkview Huntington Hospital
  • Karlee Hacker, student nurse apprentice – RN, Parkview Huntington Hospital

Gloor-Hirschy Scholarship

  • Cassandra Taylor, emergency care technician, Parkview Noble Hospital

Cathy E. Harris Good Samaritan Scholarship

  • Joshua Hicks, EMT, Parkview Noble Hospital
  • Paul Roberts, patient care technician, Parkview Regional Medical Center

Sue Johnson Nursing Scholarship

  • Jamie Smith, RN, Parkview Regional Medical Center

Parkview Huntington Spirit of Service Scholarship

  • Kayla Reich, Purdue University
  • Andrew Szelis, Trine University

2026 Traster Scholarship winner Libby Asher, RN

Parkview LaGrange Hospital Scholarship

  • Haylee Hicks, Lakeland Jr.-Sr. High School  

Parkview Logansport Memorial Scholarship

  • Avery Baldwin, Caston Jr.-Sr. High School
  • Nathalia Hernandez, Logansport High School
  • Isabela Kirisits, Caston Jr.-Sr. High School

Parkview Methodist School of Nursing Alumni Association Scholarship

  • Daniel McLaughlin, RN, Parkview Regional Medical Center
  • Kacie Thieme, registered respiratory care practitioner, Parkview Regional Medical Center
  • Bethany Zezula, RN, VA-BC, Parkview Huntington Hospital

Leon J. Ribley Scholarship

  • Lauryn Reichenbach, Manchester Jr.-Sr. High School

The Schultz Award

  • Jadyn Forrester, student nurse assistant, Parkview Education Center
  • Tessa Tonkel, student nurse technician, Parkview Huntington Hospital

Sherry Snyder Memorial Scholarship

  • McKenzy McMullen, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, Parkview Regional Medical Center
  • Taylor Smith, student nurse apprentice – RN, Parkview Bryan Hospital
  • Sydni Stuckey, student nurse assistant, Parkview Regional Medical Center

Darlene J. Tielker Memorial Nursing Scholarship

  • Taylor Smith*, student nurse apprentice – RN, Parkview Bryan Hospital
  • Kacie Thieme*, registered respiratory care practitioner, Parkview Regional Medical Center

* Indicates dual scholarship recipient

Picture of Traster Scholarship winner Gracen Norris, RN

Shirley Traster Memorial Scholarship

  • Libby Asher, RN, Parkview Noble Hospital
  • Gracen Norris, RN, Parkview Regional Medical Center

Information about each scholarship can be found on Parkview Health Foundation’s What We Do: Scholarships page at parkview.com.

Each scholarship is carefully managed by its own committee comprising Parkview leaders and foundation representatives, family members and colleagues of scholarship namesakes. Albright-Gemlick Scholarship winners are nominated by PSM athletic trainers.

Learn more about supporting healthcare education assistance through Parkview Health Foundation. Visit donate.parkview.com.

Group photo of the Albright-Gemlick Scholarship winners

About Parkview Health Foundation

Since 1878, charitable giving has helped make exceptional care possible at Parkview Health. The Parkview Health Foundation stewards philanthropic support to benefit patients and the broader community by enhancing the patient experience through comfort, access and healing.

Gifts to the foundation make a direct, meaningful impact—from helping patients overcome barriers to lifesaving care, to supporting scholarships that educate the next generation of Parkview caregivers, to advancing research that improves health care across the region and beyond.

The Parkview Health Foundation plays a critical role in strengthening Parkview Health’s ability to deliver expert, specialized care to patients in Indiana and northwest Ohio, ensuring a healthier future for the communities it serves. For more information, visit parkview.com/parkview-health-foundation.

Cutlines for attached photo options:

  • “Retired nursing leader and philanthropist Sue Johnson, left, presents Jamie Smith, RN, with her namesake nursing scholarship.”
  • “Libby Asher, RN, center, receives the Shirley Traster Memorial Scholarship from Jenny Luttman, left, and Sharrel Wells.”
  • “Gracen Norris, RN, center, beams as she is presented with the Shirley Traster Memorial Scholarship.”
  • “Albright-Gemlick Scholarship winners recognized for academic excellence, athletic achievement and community involvement at a June 19 banquet included (front row, left to right) Samantha Aselage, Caitlyn Mead, Wijdan Mohammedain and Laney Musall, and (back row, left to right) McKale Bottles, Brayden Rice and Madison Caldwell. Not pictured: Hannah Clark.”