Ionia Foundation scholarships support pursuits in healthcare

Published: July 18, 2017

IONIA, MI – The Sparrow Ionia Hospital Foundation has awarded cash scholarships to seven recent Ionia County high school graduates who plan to further their education by pursuing a healthcare field in college.

The $500 scholarships are being given with the hope of helping the graduates achieve their goals and, in turn, encouraging them to return to Ionia County to provide quality, compassionate care, preferably at Sparrow Ionia.

The Sparrow Ionia Hospital Foundation has been providing scholarships for over 20 years to community members pursuing an education in healthcare. The latest recipients (along with photo information) are:

  • Emily Byrne, of Belding High School, who plans to study Nursing at Michigan State University. Award presented by Foundation Board Treasurer Sandy Brands.
  • Kelsey Coulier, of Heartlands High School, who plans to study Nursing at Davenport University. Award presented by Foundation Board President Larry McKaig.
  • Emily Denny, of Saranac High School, who will attend Central Michigan University to study Neuroscience. Award presented by Foundation Board member Virgil Biggs.
  • Emilie Gertz, of Ionia High School, who will study Physical Therapy at Grand Valley State University. Award presented by Foundation Board member Jason Eppler.
  • Rebecca Kutch, of Lakewood High School, who plans to attend Concordia University in Wisconsin to study Nursing. Award presented by Foundation Board member Sharon Page.
  • Brittany Thelen, of Portland St. Patrick High School, who will study at CMU to be a Physician Assistant. Award presented by Foundation Board member Steve O’Mara.
  • Morgan Wittkopp, of Portland High School, who plans to study Radiography at Ferris State University. Award presented by Foundation Board member Mike Lehman.

Choose Wisely. Choose Sparrow.